A SELECTIVE MICROFILM EDITION
PARTIV
(1899-1910)
Thomas E. Jeffrey
Lisa Gitelman
Gregory Jankunis
David W. Hutchings
Leslie Fields
Robert Rosenberg
Director and Editor
Theresa M. Collins
Gregory Field
Aldo E. Salerno
Karen A. Detig
Lorie Stock
Sponsors
Rutgers, The State University Of New Jersey
National Park Service, Edison National Historic Site
New Jersey Historical Commission
Smithsonian Institution
University Publications of America
Bethesda, MD
1999
Edison signature used with permission ofMcGraw-Edis
Thomas A. Edison Papers
at
Rutgers, The State University
endorsed by
National Historical Publications and Records Commission
18 June 1981
Copyright © 1999 by Rutgers, The. State University • •
All rights reserved. No part of this publication including any portion of the guide and hidex or of
the microfilm may be reproduced, stored hi a retrieval system, or transmitted hi any form by any
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or information storage and retrieval systems— witiiout written permission of Rutgers, The State
University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
The original documents hi this edition are from the archives at the Edison National Historic Site
at West Orange, New Jersey.
ISBN 0-89093-703-6
THOMAS A. EDISON PAPERS
Robert A. Rosenberg
Director and Editor
Thomas E. Jeffrey
Associate Director and Coeditor
Paul B. Israel
Managing Editor, Book Edition
Helen Endick
Assistant Director for Admimstration
Associate Editors
Theresa M. Collins
Lisa Gitelman
Keith A. Nier
Researcli Associates
Gregory Jankunis
Lorie Stock
Assistant Editors
Louis Cariat
Aldo E. Salerno
Secretary
Grace Kurkowski
Student Assistants
Amy Cohen Jessica Rosenberg
Bethany Jankunis Stacey Saelg
Laura Konrad Wojtek Szymkowiak
VishaJ Nayak Matthew Wosniak
BOARD OF SPONSORS
Rutgers, The State University of New National Park Service
Jersey John Maounis
Francis L. Lawrence Maryanne Gerbauckas
Joseph J. Seneca Roger Durham
Richard F. Foley George Tselos
David M. Oshinsky Smithsonian Institution
New Jersey Historical Commission Bernard Finn
Howard L. Green Arthur P. Molella
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
James Brittain, Georgia Institute of Technology
R. Frank Colson, University of Southampton
Louis Galambos, Johns Hopkins University
Susan Hockey, University of Alberta
Thomas Parke Hughes, University of Pennsylvania
Peter Robinson, Oxford University
Philip Scranton, Georgia Institute of Technology/Hagley Museum and Library
Merritt Roe Smith, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS
PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Charles Edison Fund
The Hyde and Watson Foundation
National Trust for the Humanities
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
PUBLIC FOUNDATIONS
National Science Foundation
National Endowment for the
Humanities
National Historical Publications and
Records Commission
PRIVATE CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
Alabama Power Company
Anonymous
AT&T
Atlantic Electric
Association of Edison Illuminating
Companies
Battelle Memorial Institute
The Boston Edison Foundation
Cabot Corporation Foundation, Inc.
Carolina Power & Light Company
Consolidated Edison Company of New
York, Inc.
Consumers Power Company
Cooper Industries
Corning Incorporated
Duke Power Company
Entergy Corporation (Middle South
Electric System)
Exxon Corporation
Florida Power & Ligit Company
General Electric Foundation
Gould Inc. Foundation
Gulf States Utilities Company
David and Nina Heitz
Hess Foundation, Inc.
Idaho Power Company
IMO Industries
International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley H. Katz
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Midwest Resources, Inc.
Minnesota Power
New Jersey Bell
New York State Electric & Gas
Corporation
North American Philips Corporation
Philadelphia Electric Company
Philips Lighting B.V.
Public Service Electric and Gas Company
RCA Corporation
Robert Bosch GmbH
Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation
San Diego Gas and Electric
Savaiuiah Electric and Power Company
Schering-Plough Foundation
Texas Utilities Company
Thomas & Betts Corporation
Thomson Grand Public
Transamerica Delaval Inc.
Westinghouse Foundation
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
A Note on the Sources
The pages which have been
filmed are the best copies
available. Every technical
effort possible has been
made to ensure legibility.
PUBLICATION AND MICROFILM
COPYING RESTRICTIONS
Reel duplication of the whole or of
any part of this film is prohibited.
In lieu of transcripts, however,
enlarged photocopies of selected
items contained on these reels
may be made in order to facilitate
research.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT RECORDS
CEMENT
This material consists of correspondence, court records, and other
items relating to patent interference proceedings and infringement suits and
to other legal actions involving the technical development and commercial
exploitation of Edison's cement machinery. Included are documents
pertaining to Edison's crushing rolls, which were used in both iron ore
processing and cement manufacture, and to his invention of a long rotary kiln
for making cement.
Less than 10 percent of the documents have been selected. The
selected items reflect Edison's personal involvement in legal matters, detail
experimental work by Edison or his assistants, or broadly pertain to matters
of corporate organization and patent management. Related material can be
found in the records of the Edison Portland Cement Co. and the Edison Ore
Milling Syndicate, Ltd. (Company Records Series). The documents are
arranged in the following order:
Correspondence
Interference Proceeding
Shiner v. Edison (No. 27,406)
Case File
Thomas A. Edison and the North American Portland Cement
Company v. Aisen's American Portland Cement Works
Correspondence
This folder contains correspondence and other documents concerning a variety of legal
matters. The selected documents cover the period 1902-1910. Among the correspondents are
Edison; Frank L. Dyer of the Legal Department; Walter S. Mallory, vice president of the Edison
Portland Cement Co.; and Edward Dinan, chemist. Included are letters pertaining to the technical
development and operation of Edison's long kilns; to cement-related patents assigned to the
Edison Ore Milling Syndicate, Ltd.; and to a proposed infringement suit against the Atlas Portland
Cement Co. Also included is correspondence relating to the progress of litigation against the Allis-
Chalmers Co. and to a possible deposition by Edison regarding the use of pulverized coal in
cement kilns.
Interference Proceeding
Shiner v. Edison (No. 27,406)
This folder contains material pertaining to a Patent Office proceeding involving an
application filed by Edison on January 27, 1906, for a patent on a rotary kiln that he had invented
in 1 899 and a competing application by William C. Shiner. The one selected item is Edison's brief
on appeal to the commissioner of patents, who ruled in favor of Edison in June 1909.
Case File
Thomas A. Edison and the North American Portland Cement Company v.
Alsen's American Portland Cement Works
This folder contains material pertaining to the infringement suit brought by Edison and the
North American Portland Cement Co. against Alsen's American Cement Works in the U.S. District
Court for the Southern District of New York. The case was initiated in March 1908 and involved
Edison's U.S. Patent 802,631 on long kilns. The court decided against Edison and declared his
patent invalid on May 7, 1913. The selected items are from Complainants' Record on Final
Hearing and Complainants' Brief on Final Hearing
Legal Department Records
Cement - Correspondence
This folder contains correspondence and other documents concerning
a variety of legal matters. The selected documents cover the period 1902-
1910. Among the correspondents are Edison; Frank L. Dyer of the Legal
Department; Walters. Mallory, vice president of the Edison Portland Cement
Co.; and Edward Dinan, chemist. Included are letters pertaining to the
technical development and operation of Edison's long kilns; to cement-
related patents assigned to the Edison Ore Milling Syndicate, Ltd.; and to a
proposed infringement suit against the Atlas Portland Cement Co. Also
included is correspondence relating to the progress of litigation against the
Allis-Chalmers Co. and to a possible deposition by Edison regarding the use
of pulverized coal in cement kilns.
Less than 10 percent of the documents have been selected. Among
the items not selected are letters, memoranda, and reports regarding patent
research; printed patents; a draft complaint and affadavit for use in the
proposed case against the Atlas company; letters of transmittal and
acknowledgment; registered mail receipts; and documents that duplicate the
information in selected material.
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y/w July 7, 1902.
W. S. Mallory, Eb<i. ,
Edison laboratory,
Orange, K.
Dear Mr. Mallory, -
I enclose a copy of a letter dated the 25th
ult. just received from the Edison Ore-Milling Syndicate and
replying to our letter of the 11th ult. regarding the re¬
assignment of cement patents. I also enclose a copy of the
letter from Mr. Lawrence to Mr. Edison referred to in the
Syndicate letter. //
JJ7^T'4r^.
rhd/al
Enolosure.’
r
[ATTACHMENT]
Copy of letter and enclosure
from Edison Ore-Milling Syndicate limited
to Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer.
London, W.C. , June 25th 1902.
Messrs. Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer,
31 Nassau Street,
New York.
Dear Sirs,
We are in receipt of your letter of the 11th inst. ,
asking us to arrange for the reassignment of certain patents,
which Mr. Edison has already communicated to us, for the rea¬
son that they relate exclusively to the manufacture of cement.
This matter has been duly considered hy the Board of
Directors, and we desire to point out that this subject wa3
discussed as far back as July 1900, when Mr. Edison raised
the question whether one particular patent should have been
communicated to us.
Mr. Lawrence, the Chairman of this Syndicate, imme¬
diately wrote a long letter to Mr. Edison (copy enclosed)
pointing out that it had always been completely understood
from Mr. Edison's letters and speeches that this Syndicate
was to have the benefit of cement patents and in 1900 Mr. Dick,
with Mr. Edison's concurrence and sanction, on behalf of this
Syndicate, entered into negotiations in England for the sale
of these patents to an important cement combine.
[ATTACHMENT]
There are additional circumstances besides those men¬
tioned in Mr. Lawrence's letter which undoubtedly indicate
Mr . Edison's intention to hand over cement patents to this
Syndicate, in which he himself is so largely interested.
V/e venture to think therefore that there may be some
misunderstanding on your part as to Mr. Edison's wishes in
this matter, and we should be much obliged if you would fur¬
ther communicate with him, and in particular draw his atten¬
tion to Mr. Joseph Lawrence's letter to him of the 2nd August
1900, to which we may say that Mr. Edison did not make any
reply.
Yours faithfully,
EDISON ORE-MILLING SYNDICATE LIMITED.
J. Hall Jnr.
Enclosure.
Secretary.
[ATTACHMENT]
COPY.
July 19,1900.
Mr. I. Hall, Jr. ,
Seo. Edison Ore Milling Syndicate , Ltd. ,
7 Amberley House, Norfolk Street,
London, W. C. , England.
Dear Sir:-
In reply to your favor of the 6th ult., I heg to state
that the patent you speak of was a cement patent, and does not come
under the terms of the original contract. All patents coming under
the oontraot will be communicated direct to the Syndicate, as has
been the case heretofore, those relating to Cement Improvements,
whloh owing to their character may not come under the oontraot I
will take out direct.
You will be glad to know that the Mills at Edison, N.J.
are running regularly except the Bricking plant. Owing to the
reoent panic in Iron, the furnaces were overloaded with ore when
we started up, so we will not ship briquettes until their surplus
ore has been worked down to permit of their reoeiving briquettes.
We are turning out about 300 tons of Concentrate daily and stocking
it.
As to the costs of concentrating, we are keeping accounts
and hope to give you the results in a couple of months. We are not
losing any money even with our 17 per cent crude ore, but how much
we are making is an unknown quantity. The Zinc Mill continues to
run regularly.
We are progressing rapidly with the Cement Mill.
Yours truly,
Thomas A. Edison,
R.
[ATTACHMENT!
Copy of letter from Mr. Joseph Lawrence to Mr. Thomas A. Edison.
2nd. August 1900.
My dear Edison,
The Secretary of the Edison Syndicate has shown me
your letter of the 19th. July in reference to the specifica¬
tion Ho. 3485 of 1900, described as "method of and apparatus
for grinding screening and rescreening very fine materials
in bulk".
In your letter which although dated the 19th. July,
did not reach us until the 31st. (evidently having missed
two or three mails), you say this specification "does not
come under the terms of the original contract."
The specification is not alone confined to cement,
but applies also to iron, the terms being as follows
(A) "An invention relating to an improved method
"and apparatus for grinding and screening very fine materials
"in bulk such as iron ore, Portland Cement &c. , and to an
"improved method of and apparatus for grinding In bulk the
"ground and screened material. "
Under these circumstances, I have no doubt that you
will see that the Syndicate is entitled to the benefit of
this improvement under the terms of the original contract,
indeed your patent attorneys, Messrs. Dyer admit as much in
their letter to us of the 12th. July, wherein they stato they
have v/ritten to their agents, Messrs. Brandon Bros, in Paris,,
to look to our agent Mr. Woodroffe as their principal and to
[ATTACHMENT]
take all instructions from him.
You will remember that in all your previous corres¬
pondence and especially in your speech to the shareholders
in December last, you admit that the cement rights are 11 con¬
trolled by the Syndicate. " In your speech, after dealing
with the cement works and the plant that was being erected,
and the improvements that were being made in the same, you
go on to urge the shareholders not to part "with any rights
"for any purpose whatsoever until these two (cement) mills
"have demonstrated commercially the valuable rights controlled
"by the Syndicate. " You also go on to say that the "experi-
"ments are being paid for from this side, the Syndicate
"realizing without expense."
All these circumstances prove, without falling back
on the terms of the Contract, that you regard the Syndicate
as controlling all the cement rights, which naturally include
the Improvements. In the Director's printed report (which
was approved by Mr. Dick) which was sent out prior to the
meeting, we speak, on the strength of your previous promise,
of your communicating to us without cost certain improvements
which relate to cement, and also state that "other valuable
improvements will, it is promised also be communicated in a
similar wayl' We have also, quite recently received four
other specifications of new inventions one of which particu¬
larly relates to cement, and we have filed applications in
various countries in respect of them to protect the Syndi-
cat e ' s rights .
Yours faithfully,
(Signed.) J. DAv/KJiiiJGE .
7A°/°2/AvsK/r,
Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer,
31 Nassau Street,
Now York.
Dear Sirs: —
X have yours of the 7th Inst, enclosing copy of letter
of June 25th, 1902, from the Edison Ore Milling Syndicate (Limited,
also copy of letter of August 2nd, 1900, from Mr. Joseph Lawrence,
all of which have been oarefully noted.
There is no question but what the Syndicate are entitled
to the Cement rights on all machinery which comeB in under the
contract, but the machinery and devices designed specially for
Cement work and invented after the oontract was made, doaB not go
to them without further consideration to me. ^
The patents oovared by yours of June 11th, 1902, were
assigned in error and should be re-assigned to me.
Yours very truly,
ZfinutA/: '^"Z'jMzU:
** " ' JAS^„,,^A
Sept. 22, 1902.
Thomaa A. Edison, Esq.,
Orange,^ I
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OA.t> ^ tCCZZZ
Dear Sir, U) »-C£ (Q-c,c tllU f-D U3s^L. <PW- &-t-s A C-
We have received from Edison Ore Milling Syndicate }\
limited a letter, dated 11th inst., as follows:
"Referring to the question of the assignment of
oertain cement patents hy Mr. Edison to the Syndicate,
it haB been arranged that the consideration of the mat¬
ter should he postponed until Mr. Dick is next in
England, when a settlement satisfactory to all parties
can no doubt ho arranged. 11
We assume that this means that an arrangement has heen made
directly with you to this effect.
(ul,(< l /O CcJk
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(a /“olvj2 ASs . cT-
Ti li pnom n? w.c.
5214,'Gebrard.
Mr T. A. Edison;
Orange
New Jersey',
U. 3. A.
Dear ;Sir,-'
At a Board Meeting of the Syndicate held on the 20th inst, ,
the discussion regarding certain of your cement patents, which had
Been adjourned from the meeting held on the 10th' .September pending
Mr Dick's return to England',, was resumed.
Mr Dick fully explained your views with regard- to the
cement patents which have been communicated to Us by Messrs Dyer,
Edmonds & Dyer and the feeling was at once expressed by "all the Direc¬
tors that there was no wish whatever on our part to ask you to give-
us any patent rights to which we are not entitled,;- and which might
be considered not to; be covered" by the scope of the original- agree¬
ment, with the Syndicate.
We do not in any way desire to take advantage of the fact
that these cement patents have been communicated to us and that we
have filed patent, applications on them here and abroad.
In order to recognise the principle of the ownership of
_ the patents the Directors have resolved to' offe'r you a percentage
■ of profits in respect of any patent improvements invented by you
oeing used hereafter, such improvements not being covered' by the
original contract, and Mr Dick has been asked to consult with yoU
on the matter upon his return to the United States.
We trust that you may consider this suggestion a fair
^one and that it may meet your wishes', but the Directors are arutioua.
that it should not be felt for ohe moment that there is any" desire
on their part to ask for more patent rights than they are entitled
to), or Which you may feel willing to place' at their disposal in the
interests of ail concerned.
Yours faithfully,
EDISON ORE-MILLING SYNDICATE LTD. ,
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COPY.
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Roaster Plant:
Mr. W. H. Ma&on, Supt.,
Edison Portland Cement Co.,
Stewartsville, N. J.
Dear Sir:-
Dec. 4, 1903
In reviewing the work of the kilns for some time
past, it is evident that the speed of rotation of No.l kiln at
least, should he lessened; and also that provision he made for
changing the speed as desired — with or without interfering with
the speed of the chalk feed screw.
The main object we wish to aooomplish is good clink¬
er and more of it. The chief fault of the olinker bo far haB heen
insufficient oxidation. The heat, as a rule, has heen sufficient,
hut incomplete oxidation has heen repeatedly noticed and latterly
it is more evident, since we have heen increasing the output.
Before taking up the case of our kilns, there are to
he understood a few general points relative to the reparation of a
'kiln.
Elrst : The speed of the chalk feed sorew determines the
quantity of intake of chalk, and, consequently, the quantity of
output of clinker. This is axiomatic, the more chalk you feed to a
kiln, the more clinker/you will get.
Second: The speed of rotation of the kiln determines the
length of time required for a given quantity of chalk to come for¬
ward. The faster the kiln rotates, the faster the material is
.carried forward, and vice versa.
Mr. W.H.Mason . Sheet Mo.
Third: The burden of a kiln decreases as the speed of ro¬
tation of the kiln increases. That is, the amount of material
(the load) in the kiln will he less at a high speed than at a low
speed. This is seen from the second statement, and can he illus¬
trated as follows:
Take two bricks, and have two kilns, A and B* kiln A mak¬
ing a revolution in 60 seconds anelB in 30 seconds. Drop a brick
. at same time in each kiln. It will require a longer time for the
brick to travel through A than through B. The brick will fall out
of B first, vfoich is rotating the faster. Mow, if we fed one
brick a second into each A and B, bricks would be dumped out of B
sometime before they would emerge from A, and yet, at the instant
the first brick dropped out of B, each kiln would have .the same
i»uU X't cknnnAs fiXldAjL. O imJ, iviUJL.
mdaber of bricks in it. In kiln A, , and at the same rate as from B.
But A would have the heavier burden. There would be more
bricks in it, although now dropping a brick per second, the same
as B, A would be carrying more bricks, and. so have a heavier load;
the bricks would, of course, be piled deeper in the kiln. T
Beturn to the consideration of our kilns. Observations p
on one kiln will serve to illustrate the point in view in this note.
The examination of clinker from kiln Mo. 2 for the past
few days has shown plainiy^tha'need of more oxidation, while^’the '
h
interior, although burned hard enough, was sufficiently oxidized.
On one oocaslbn, on Dec, 3, the circumstances were as follows:
kiln cool; clinker not heated sufficiently, A short time later !
the heat increased; clinker heated hard enough; but insufficient
W.H. Mason
oxidation plainly evident. Had more air admitted, and soon noticed
the kiln not so hot as before. Shut off some of the air, regain¬
ed the heat, hut oxidation not yet complete. At this point we
had reached the maximum excess of air allowable for the coal being
consumed, and the clinker yield was not good. It needed more oxi¬
dation. Now, if the speed of the kiln were out down Blightly,
so as to compel the material to remain in the hot, oxidizing atmos¬
phere a longer time, the clinker would have been more thoroughly
oxidized; this would be the oase,
Nirst: Because there would be less liability of clinkers
being formed suddenly be^ being rushed forward into the clinkerlng
zone, which ocoureB when tbs kiln is running too fast. The main
objection to this is that olinker bo formed balls so suddenly as to
interfere with the oxidation of their interior. The outside coat¬
ing once formed prevents the oxidation of the interior.
Seoondly: Thorough oxidation is not accomplished in an instant
but require b time. How long oannot be exactly said.
These are the main objections to running at a high
rate of speed. Of course, too slow a speed might be objectionable,
v'' resuTt/'in over-burning, but this would be erring on the side of
safety. We could easily remedy that. The olaim is not made that
we can put the kiln at a certain fixed speed, to be the beBt tinder
all oiroumstanoes, but we do olaim that better result* oan be ob¬
tained by a lesser speed than at present, With a light burden, the
kiln oan rotate faster without interfering with good burning; ample
opportunity is there for oxidation in a shorter time, but with a
W.H.Mason
Sheet No. 4
heavy burd.en a given handful of chalk, for inetanoee, has not the
same opportunity for complete oxidation that the same quantity of
chalk has with a light burden, each handful being subjected to
same heat for the same time. In the case of the heavier burden,
more time tequired.
To sum up, then, we can say a choice must be made be¬
tween these two conditions:
First: A given chalk feed; kiln rotating at a given rapid
rate and a lighter burden* The material is in the heat a shorter
time, and the olinker formed more suddenly.
Second: The same given chalk feed; kilm rotating at a lesser
speed; the burden greater. The material is in the heat a longer
time, and the olinker formed more gradually.
The choice must be between these two. What advan¬
tages are there in the first oase?
As a rule, in’ any metallurgical or chemical reaction
where we wish to have formed some new product by combining two or
more ingredients, particularly where heat is required, better re¬
sults are obtained by bringing about the reaction slowly. Sudden
and violent plunging of materials into heat may serve to disinte¬
grate (and that is a good way to do it), but not to combine.
Faulty combinations oan also readily ensue from clinkering too
suddenly, even though the chalk mixture be correct as a whole. In
clinker formed suddenly, the union of the partioles may take place;
but the complete combination or reaction of the moleoules is not
facilitated.
I
W.H.Mason — Sheet Ho. 5.
These are the principal reasons submitted in argument
for a provision for a slower speed of kiln* Many other /points
of a detailed nat4ure might be advanoed in favtr of it, but,
belleveing the pbint sufficiently oovered by the above, 1 am,
You re truly ,
(signed) E. P. Bulan
PS, - Requires 1 hr. 40 min, for passage of briok through the
kiln; from aotual observation - by W.E.M. l/25/04«
copy
The Edison Portland Cement Co,
Edison Laboratory, Orange, N.J.12/ll/03/
taeA.
Mr. W. H. Maeon, Sup’t.,
Stewartsville , N, J.
Lear Sir:-
Mr. Linan's observations of the Kiln received.
1st, I do not quite understand what he means by "Insuffi¬
cient oxidation". Loes lie-mean the clinker is not oxidised? I
have always understood that if the temperatures were high enough
all the reactions will take place , and they will take place at
the same temperature whether there be an oxidising or reducing
temperature, that the clinker if in highly oxidising atmosphere will
be reddish black from oxygen combining tb'. raise the iron to the
ferric state, this is shown when greenish clinker is held in BunBen
flame. On the contrary, if the gas is reducing the clinker will
go to the green ferrous stage.
I will give several reasons why I think high speed
is the best condition to produce large putput in our kilns, say
2 revolutions per minute, but they are only arguments and theory
and very little reliance should be placed on them in view of the
fact that we have every means to experiment and let results bring
out the proper theory and method.
Arguments for high speed.
' 1st. Lighter load per foot hence pressure on itself in
sticky state will cause it to ball less or if balled the mass will
be more porous. A sticky mass 6 inches thick will have a pressure
on the bottom iayer due to the weight at that height; if one foot
thick it will have twice the psessure, hence the tendency to ball
up is greater and in addition the extra weight acting on what is
balled will make it more dense by continuous pounding by its ovm in¬
creased weight. In addition, when the larger masses enter the
strong clinkering zone they will break up into finer balls if the
load is 6 inches thati-they would if the load was 12 inches as the
porosity will be less in the latter case. Therefore, if the
balls are larger and in addaition more dense, they will not burn
ti-o the centre so rapidly hence the heavy load balls will require
more time .
2nd. The passage of brick through the kiln is not criter¬
ion of the speed of the chalk and clinker for the reason that a
brick can only progerss by the action of the angle of the kiln,
Mr. W.H.M.
whereas the chalk on account of hulk, air ani. explusion of C03
blowing up and the. fomation of the ring at chalk and produce a
congestion and raise the angle line far above the normal grade of
the balance of the stock and there is continual avalanches of ma¬
terial which causes it to advance twenty to fifty feet in a single
revolution of the kiln, whereas the brisk would not more but a
few inches; now with a fixed load, if you slow the kiln to half,
the chalk hill doubles in altitude and the tendency and distance
in which the stock will avalanche ahead is greatly increased and
proceeds so far into the clinkering zone that it gives off C02 to
disturb the proper combustion of the coal, for the reason that
coal will not burn at all when the proportions of CO to C02
reaches 33 volumes of CO to 66 volumes' of C02, no matter if you
have plenty of oxygen just as in a blasjr furnace KhaaixJthRxkiststfcxSsr-
jaasus when the vbihumes of CO to C02 as stated, is reached no fur¬
ther reduction of iron ore can take place. Therefore, to get good
economy, good combustion and high tempenature , it is very desirable
that the principle proportion of the C02 should be driven off be¬
fore it gets hear the clinkering zone, but the avalancing movements
prevents it, the greater the load, the greater the avalanching and
projection of unprepared chalk into the clinkering zone to disturb
your combustion, lower the temperature and produce badly burned
clinker.
3d: Now if the chalk ring formed at chalk end builds up
to the same height with a light load as it does with a heavy load,
then there would be no gain in speeding the kiln when the chalk
feed was constant because the avalanching will be just the same,
and the principal resaofi. f or speeding would be nullified and these ar¬
guments fall to the ground.
4th: Could the formation of this ring be prevented there
would not be any avalanching Toy£& steady even progression of the
stock and at 2 revolutions per minute there would be ample time
for the heat to penetrate to the centre of the balls on account
of the long zone of high temperature , cement clinker is very good
conductor of he&tY-the centre of cube of one inch will reach that of
the outside in a few minutes, and the reason so many come through
th e kiln with centres which have never reached the temperature
of low "temper at ure" chalk rusnell Y6rTtop of it by the avhlancheaat
times get excessive it brings so much C02 into the combustion one
that you will lose your heat no matter how much coal you put on.
We will be met by this mechanical difficulty every time we
try to increase the load beyond a certain point in our kilns,
say 30 to 32 barrels beyond that amount the avalanche will project
itself further into the combust! organa limit the output by making
it impossible to burn the coal by the C02 produced, and the only
way to increase the ouput is to stop or reduce the avalanching at
the back ring and I told Mason to speed the kiln upon the theory
that the height of the ring and load would be less and . thus re¬
duce the avalanches so the greater load can be carried.
6th. The time required to burn cement i& purely a ques¬
tion of temperature and heat conductively of the mass; and inch
cube can be burnt perfectly to the centre in twenty minutes in a
gas furnace if its attempted to burn it in less time -by raising
the tenperature, the outside will start to melt. I do not. think
it would be burned any better if it was in an hour. The reactions
are not forced reactions except exclusion of C02, they would take
place at ordinary temperature of themselves if they were viscous. ■
The only functions performed by heat after explusion of C02 is to ‘
soften their ingredients so their molecules can act. When this
soft atage is reached the reactions can take place, any increase
in the softening does no good. The finer ground the materials
are, the less the softening required aid the lower the temperature:
if the particles are corase ground, it would be necessary to raise
tlrthe clinker to a semi-fluid condition to get combination of the
coarser particles'.
Could the gun be used at the chalk end to break up
the ring and stop or reduce avalanching, you could easily raise
the output but I suppose this is not practicable.
Yours truly.,
Sigd. Thos. A. Edison
COPY
Jan. 8, 1904.
Kilns:
Mr. W. H. Mason, Supt.,
The Edison Portland Cement Co.,
Stewartsville, N. J.
Pear Sir:-
The letter of Mr. Edison's relative to the operation
of the kilns, contains, besides much valuable information a few
statements which do not 'quite agree with results we have sot f dree",
obtained with the kilns. As well as not quite conforming to demon-
strat wire suit s , hitherto obtained in general practice. Neither
can I see how. they can stand theoretically, and wish to call your
attention. to the same. It is agreed, of course, that it is best
to let actual ptaatiiaib results being out the best methods.
The insufficient oxidation of clinker mentioned .
' *•**>.,, "■ . : ;
in letter of December 4, 1903, applied to the interior of the clink¬
er chiefly. This fault of the clinker has been the case on differ-,
ent occasions, and as was before stated^ is be li eyed due to the rate
at which the material is propelled through the kiln. The exterior
of the clinker in nearly all cases was sufficiently oxidized, i.e.
the reactions were .completed. The interior in many cases was not.
Iii some' >cases the exterior showed the effect- of prolonged heating
..after formation and; had a. thin reddish brown coating. In the clink-,
er with faulty interior the combination of the lime with silica and
YT.H.M . 2 1-8-04.
alumina is not complete; the sulphur present in some cases
existing as sulphide of lime which should, not be. Such sulphur
should be. converted to suplhate of lime. To do this, requires
oxygen, necessitating air, and it takes time to do it. It must be
understood that to make Portland Cement clinker, an oxidizing at¬
mosphere is necessary, together with a high temperature.
Take good clinker and heat in the Bunsen flame, in either
the oxidizing or reducing part, and a reddish fcrown color will be
noticed on the surface. Note that this takes place in either the
oxidizing or reducing flame of the Bunsen bunner. I believe it
to be nothing more than a separation of the ferric oxide, due to
the heating, from whatever state of combination in which it may
have been. Supposing the greenish colored clinker has ferrous iron
■which can be changed to ferric iron, this does not prove that all
the iron in that clinker is ferrous iron. The fact is, practical¬
ly none is found in the cement, so it could hardly have been in
the clinker.
There is a time when some of the dfcbnkis in the ferrous
state. This is when ferric oxide is uniting to silica. In the
chalk iron exists under the two conditions, ferrous and ferric,
chiefly in the latter state. In much of the rock of this xection,
or belt, sulphide of iron is present; .it can easily be seen with
the naked eye. This much alone could account f on the ferrous
iron. There could also be present ferrous silicate, but likely
very little of it. The most of it is in the ferric form. Cer¬
tainly some of this ferric oxide reacts with the selica, even in •
the presence of the large quantity of lime. It is an established
fact that ferric oxide and silica cannot, unite directly. Berric
W.H.M . 3. 1-8-04.
oxide must first break down to the ferrous state which it does
by heat, according to this equation Pe2<)3 s gPeO +■ 0. The fer¬
rous oxide then united with silica to form the different silicates
of iron. At this stage the presence of ferrous iron is accounted
for but this could hardly apply throughout the whole piece of clin-
. ker .
The uni-ferrous silicate melts at about the melting point
of cast iron; when suddendly cooled it forms into crystals of
dark olive green color. The bi-ferrous silicate melts at about the
melting point of steel; it is flesh colored when cooled. The
tri-ferrous silicate is still less fusible, remaining viscous at a
white heat.
We are more likely to have the uni-silioate or the bi¬
silicate. Note that the colors are olive green and flesh colored,
colors noticed at times on the outside clinker. It also requires '
quite a high heat to bring about the reactions of ferric oxide
and silica. Also ferrous silicates readily decompose in the air
yielding ferric oxide and silica.
Now remembering the great preponderance of lime over oxide
of iron, to react with the silica; the small percentage of oxide
of iron present; the fact that practically all the iron present
is in the. ferric state; and the difficulty attendant upon the
reaction of the ferric oxide with silica, it bein£ performed in the
case of Portlahd Cement clinker, in an oxidizing atmosphere, the
chances are that very little silicate of iron is present, and it
cannot readily be understood if the oxygen of the air in a short
time can decompose ferrous silicate, why the highly oxidizing heat
Mln. doggLngt accomplish this almost. -Irmtarrhl-u-. „ i„m.^
V.H.JJ. . 4.
very little chance for the presence of ferrous iron in the clinker,
it could he believed that some ferrous iron might re suit from. the
partial combustion of coal in contact with it, coloring the exter¬
ior hut we have first to get proof that the iron is present in the
ferrous state. From the fact that the uhi-ferrous silicate is
olive green colored; and that clinker is olive green colored, it
does not follow that the iron in the clinker is in the ferrous
state; there are other substances in the clinker besides the
iron and the silica to modify the color.
Such of the ferrous oxide as doe s react with the
silica acts as an oxygen carrier, giving up an atom of oxygen for
every molecule of ferric oxide reacting, as noted in the equation
Fe203 s 2 .FeO 4- 0. For want of a better explanation, it is taken,
by some that this atom of oxygen unites with a molecule of lime;
Ca 0+0 m Ca 02, forming dioxide of calcium. Believing it to be
easier t b ixidize ferrous iron then to oxidize lime toc*4<*4ȣ>- dioxide
it is not more likely that the oxygen goes immediately to ferrous
iron and oxidizes it or else the most easily oxidized substance
present, which is not lime?
The statement was made that .the clinker were insufficient¬
ly oxidized, meaning the reactions were .not completed; their
interiors were soft and contained material like what you find im¬
mediately beyond (speaking from the coal end) the ppint of incip¬
ient clinkering, where the coating begins to adhere to the lin¬
ing; sulphur was present as calcium sulphide; and less and less
evidence of reaction as you observe from the surface towards
W.H.M. ii)... 5
-towwrffs the centre of the clinker, which was soft, and. dark brown
to light colored. Such is a description of the worst cases which
are partly due to hurried heating at the time of first adhesion
particularly.
Also this variety of clinker: outside appearnce satis¬
factory; hard and crystalline coating; proceeding inwards through
a piece say: 3" - 4" diameter, we see a half inch shell of accep--
fable clinker; next half inch not so dark in color nor as crys¬
talline as the exterior. Proceed father towards the centre and
you will find the mass hard enough perhaps but the structure instead
of being crystalline is massive; it is also light in color. The
very centre perhaps is still lighter irj color. A piece of this
interior on further heating will darken and show crystals,
look more like clinker.
While Mr. Edison has his arguments for high speed of.
kiln divided under different heads, the underlying idea seems to be
that he wishes to avoid the formation of the chalk ring at any
rate avoid the sudden avalanching of chalk toward the coal end.
Let it be understood we do not favor the avalanching of the chalk
towardsth§ecoal; also that vie wish to avoid the formation of
chalk- ring and to attain this it is believed a slower speed will
accomplish this better than the present high speed.
His first argument for high speed is that thereby we
will have less trouble from the clinker balling. He' holds, a re¬
lation exists between depth of load and formation of balls. That
the greater the load of material in the kiln, the deeper the bed
of material, and the greater the tendency to ball. This might
W.H.M/ . 6
all te well if the large clinker halls were formed entirely from
smaller ones, by a ball rolling about and gathering smaller pie¬
ces; or e.g. like drops of mercury running together. The clink¬
er balls are not formed in this way. Sometimes with a very
hot kiln a larger sized ball, say 10" or more, in diameter, will
take up small sized clinker, by rolling over the latter, causing
the adhesion; bujr you would not increase the diameter of a ball
3" by this method. It might coat up for one larger with small
balls, but not for any more. The adhesion is too weak. You- can
readily note such adhered clinkers on the coo led ball after leav¬
ing the kiln.
It is safe to say that in nearly every case balling is
directly due to the composition of the raw materials and not to
the depth of load in the kiln.
Balling takes place as readily with a light load as with a
heavy load. I notice that on December 10, 1903, the burners
complained of the material balling somewhat and we were then
running on a light load of chalk. Again y/e usually did not have
trouble with balls even though running on heavy loads. Furthermore
the balling begins before being clinkered i.e. about 25' from the
coal end. They come towards the coal end already formed and do not
grow by taking on layers of clinker to any appreciable extent. Look
at their structure and this can be seen. At about lif.5' from .the ■"
coal end was fouod the first evidenoe of material gathering; small
accretions, the size of a corn and easily crushed with the finger,
they were all intermixed with -the bulk of the soft chalk. Coming
toward the coal end, the accretions grew in size until about 35'
from the front end (coal) where there were some as large as a fist
W.H.M . 7
although still soft and could he crushed in the hand. There v/as
still present some loose chalk. At about 25' from the coal end,
the accretions had hardened more and shrunk somewhat although Btill
smooth. Here they must have become plastic as the coating on
the kiln lining begins at about 20 to 25' from the codl end. At
15' from the coal end, the balls have shrunk still. more; are
harder and rougher and definitely formed; some showing cracks as
if separating into two- smaller balls.
Any balls formed therefore have their origin along about
35* from the coal end, and they, do not grow appreciably by adhering
to already formed clinker. You may remember we never had any
trouble from balls forming whenever -Tb-Smuy-we shut down the kiln
to patch it by allowing a bed of clinker lie over a hole. The
clinker rolled about and came out as uayal immediately on start¬
ing the klin. Some clinker, of course, stuck all along where the
clinker came in contact with the coating. This formed a rougher
bed' in which some of the later clinker was caught on revolving
the kiln; some of it adhered after becoming soft and plastic.
I know that the composition of the raw materials has the
most to do with the balling. Ordinarily speaking the higher the
percentage of lime the lesser the tendency to ball. A chalk in
which the correct percentage of lime 75 gives clinker of the proper
size and grade. To increase the percentage of lime <say to 76.5# w
would result in the formation of smaller sized clinker. To re¬
duce the percentage of lime say to 73.5# would cause the clinker
to form in large balls. It. does not of course fdllow that this
W.H.M,
would be the result from day to day hut what has been said applies
to the one mixture. One day we could run a chalk of 76 fa carbon¬
ate of lime and find that the clinker balled pretty badly. The
next day we could run in another..! mixture ..gay 73.5^ carbonate of
lime and the clinker be of the usual size. Other elements than
the lime and silica enter into it, chief among which is the
alumina. But any more of this will be foreign to this letter, to
the substance of which let us return after again stating that the
balling cannot be connected with the depth of load of material in
the kiln.
The passage of a brick through the kiln was not given. to
illustrate th e rate travel of the chalk through the kiln. Bricks
were mentioned simply in demonstrating that the speed of the kiln
had nothing to do with the quantity of output; to prove that it was
the rate of feeding -that controlled the quantity of output.
In Mr. Edison's letter, the statement is made in speaking
of the avalanching of the chalk that "with a fixed load, if you
slow the kiln to half, the chalk hill doubles its altitude;, and the
tendency and distance in which the stock will avalanchf- ahead is
greatly increased, etc."
In the first place , I do not think the chalk hill would
be doubled, with double the load. Also it is very clear to see
that material could hardly be projected as far forward with a
slow speedas with a high speed. Whatever avalanching of chalk does
W.H.M.
movement; when finally enough lias collected to flow over the
ring, which is irregular in diameter, that part nearest the coal
end lunges forward forming a path as it were for all behind it,
easily slipping along on its own bed. Now if the kiln is not
revolved so rapidly there will be more material in the kiln to
take up the heat passing along to the stack, and the place ijhere
the Go2 is driven off will not be so definitely marked as it
is at present. Neither will the chalk ring be so definite; it-
can be expected to be spread out more through the length of the
kiln; it will not be so abrupt. This structure of it together
with the slower revolution of the kiln will cause the chalk to
advance more gradually and not to plunge into the combustion portion
of the kiln so suddenly as it nov; does. If for no other reason than
to remedy the last mentioned trouble which we now have, why not try
it at a SLower speed?
The statement of Mr. Edison' s that "coal will not burn
hb all when the proportions of Co to Co2 reaches 33 volumes of
Co to 66 volumes of Co2, no matter if you have plenty of oxygen"
can hardly be true for al} percentage of oxygen present. Probably
coal could not be burned where the aboVe mentioned gases consti¬
tute all the atmosphere; but certainly if you added more and more
oxygen or air, the percentage of the total sum of Co and Co 2 would
become less and less until finally they would constitute such a
relatively small percentage of the whole that coal would burn. I
I am hot prepared to say at what percentage of air or oxygen this
combust ion would take place, but that portion of Mr. Edison's
V/.H.M . 10
declaration "no matter if you have plenty of oxygen" unlimited as
it is, cannot he accepted.
Again he says thaf'no further reduction of iron can take
place" speaking of the above mentioned relative proportions of
Co and Co2 in blast furnace gases. This may be very true, but,
its citation here hardly helps what he is attempting to protfve, '
diffi culty of conbustion of coal with the above mentioned propor¬
tions of gases mentioned. If iron cannot be reduced, with those
conditions, then the atmosphere must be oxidizing, or neutral,
to say the least. If that is the case with iron, it is so because
the coal is then .burning more completely than it should for the
reduction of the oxides of iron in the ore. It must also be borne
in mind •fhat at the temperature of melted pig iron, and somewhat
less, Co2 is oxidizing to iron, and if it becomes too excessive in
the blast furnace gases% the atmosphere there will no longer be re¬
ducing but the opposite. So thafcfdr the blast furnace it is a case
of two complete combustions of coal-deriving too much oxygen from
the air and not enough from the.oxidfe of iron in the ore.
Also remember, that the action of the blast furnace is one
of reduction whereas the action \ n I ir i =3S^r<" of the rotary kiln
is one of oxidation. In the case of the blast furnace, it must
be reducing to reduce the iron from the oxide of iron. The rotary
kiln, an oxiding atmosphere is required; we want ho reducing action.
And if it were immaterial whether the atmosphere beoxidizing or re¬
ducing, it would of cpyrse be economy to burn our coal completely,. '
to do which an excess of air is required. So even if it were not
nece SBary we would do it at any rate.
W.H.M . . 11
It must be borne in mind that the two operations ate the
exact antithesis of each other, reducing iron in the blast furnace
and forming clinker in the rotary kiln. The one product is a re-
duopd metal while the other should be a series of. oxides in as high
,0> Toiti^yn. , ■***■£"*£
as state of oxidation as^the blastfurnace gases are ^reducing.
Compare the analysis of the one to the other.
Rotary kiln gases taken from a 60* Akiln while "working
good. Co-0. 2^; Co2 = 10.2^;0=11.8^; Na77.8^.
Note the percentages of Co and Co2 also the larger excess
of oxygen, indicating & iarge excess of air and of course consequent
loss of heat.
Blast furnace gases under good working; average composition
of good working: Co .27^; Co2 * 14.5^; N s 58. 5^
One sfcngle case: Co > 23.7 fe\ Co2 . 13.7^; N . 63.1^
Note the percentage of Co and Co2 and of course no free
oxygen (The relative volumes of Co and Co2 mentioned in Mr. Edison's
letter are simply reversed.)
The. rotary, kiln gases will support combustion. The blast
furnaces gases will not; but can be .burned. They are exactly .
opposite. Indeed the blast furnace gases might be used to burn
Portland cement clinker. How then can combustion of coal in one
pdseebe cited as an illustration of proper, working in the other
case?
Concerning the length of the time required for the inter¬
ior of a one inch cube to become as hot as the outside, it may req¬
uire but a few minutes but as explained before, air or oxygen xA^.
required also. Mr. Edison says tlul- reason so many clinkers come
through the kiln with centres which have never reached the tempera-
W.H.M . 12.
tureof the zone, is that the outs ide 'HAS continually reaching
coatings of low te mperature chalk". How does this account for
the fact that we have had such soft centre clinkers when there was
no chalk ring noticeable and certainly no avalanching of chalk?
And usually when we did have such chalk avalanching, the clink¬
ers had a rusty appearance on the outside and did not necessarily '
have soft centres. If soft centres were due to cold coatings of
ohalk, we could not expgct the clinker to have such a good crystal¬
line exterior which it often has with soft centres. With the load
of clinker extending fully fifteen feet from the coal end, we have
gotten soft centered clinker. The claim is made to explain the
formation of such clinker; the soft clinker ball existing at about
35' from the coal end it advances for about ten fleet through what I
believe to be the most critical part of the operation at a too
rapid rate for the interior to be properly burned; a somewhat hardO
er shell is formed during its travel of this distance preventing
the free burning of the interior and the. coating or outside shell
becoming harder and harder as it ccmes on through the laBt twenty
five feet of the kiln to the coal end; the chance of the interior
becoming burned thoroughly is lessened as it nears the coal
end; practically no chance after it has come to within ten feet
of the coal end. I consider that portion of the kiln from the
time you find the surface of the balls taking on the least degree
of evenness and cohesion up to and including that portion of the
kiln where the shell begins to show indentations due to the first
shrinkages, to be the most vital or if I may say, the most critical.
W.H.M . 13,
Hurried through this zone faulty combinations may ensue; its cer¬
tainly does no good to hurry it. If the atmosphere has nothing to
do with the formation fif correct cement clinker and if the centre
of an ordinary piece of clinke.r becomes heated to the same degrees
$s the exterior in a few minutes, why then does not the clinker for¬
med at twenty feet frdra the coal end, beoxuoe completely and correct¬
ly formed in its travel through this twentj^the hottest part of
the kiln, consuming 12 to 15 minutes time? Air is needed, and if
you have reached the maxium amount allowable then there remains more
time which can readily be given it; prolong the time for action of
heat and air, i.e., slow the kiln. Slowly revolving the kiln,
beings about the reactions more gradually, which surely cannot
be a detriment and there is less liability of faulty combinations
ensuing Suppose we had two chalks (A) with following percentages
in the different rocks, constituting: cement rocks of two classes:
in one silica = 19 f* another rock silica » 15^. The carbonate
mixed with the above containing 2 fo silica. (B)cement rock of two
kiidJ-s; one had silica = 16^; the other 14^. The carbonate had
1C$£ silica. Each chalk mixture mad e so as t & have the same com¬
positions empirically and ground to the same degree of fineness.
Heating each alike skill not give clinker of exaltly like composition
structurally. The more quickly they are formed the less will be
their resemblence. Certain it is, if formed slowly and gradually
they can be brought into closer similarity in every respect.
It-might be argued that the clinkers would be the same in
every respect, but it is not true. Without going into details,
W.H.M . 14.
consider chalk A at 35' from coal in one kiln. Chalk B at 35' from
coal end in another kiln. Kilns exactly alike ;i:. all other conditions
similar. At what distance from the coal end do they become alike?
But of this more will be said again, details of this not being per¬
tinent to the question herein involved. Suffice to say for th'e
present that they can be made to more closely resemble each other
by causing them to react more gradually.
It was not meant to have the clinker heated tfl sof.tening
for any great length of time. After the clinker is once formed
completely further heating serves only to deteriorate it, slagging
it in fact, if heated too long, destroying its hydraulic properties
like
and rendering it/so much glass as far as setting properties are
c oncerned. You may remember that we had some "Dead" cement short¬
ly after we began manufacturing last October. This was due to the
overburning of the clinker. By the statement of violent manufact¬
ure, which I mentioned was meant relatively violent, and it applied
chiefly to the reactions in the critical zone of the kiln. 1
believe, however, if the materials were held in the plastic
state for an hours duration there would be separation of the mole¬
cules and some further changes not ordinarily to be had in clinker.
But we do claim that slow fornation of the clinker gives better re¬
sults than that formed more quickly. Take any two chemical com¬
pounds, you almost invarible secure a more stable resulting pro¬
duct by causing them to react gradually, the slower the better^,
Hjtrrying the reaction does not tend to form the most stable ^compounds
Or to give a more practical case of manufacture, Mr.
Edison went to the iron industry to cite Instances in establishing
W.H.K....;... 15
A^-kCo , kHz JLuGtfjU /Wj4*rv«-<i. ifc&jL. irta^k. . "W>J- jv^ad^-^- °f •
certalnjilast furnace is pig iroirwhich we wish to convert into
steel. The two chief ways 6f doing this are the Bessemer and Open
Heafcth methods. The one requires about 12 minutes during time of
reaction. The other requires about two hours during time of
reaction. We then have two steels, Bessemer and Open Hearth, and
I believe it is generally conceded even in cases of identical com¬
position that Open Hearth steel is better in every respect than
•Bessemer. More time is consumed during its formation, during the
vital period of its construction. This is not only the generally '
accepted opinion among engineers and manufacturers, but is supported
by metal lurgists , as Metcalf, Campbell and others.
Or better still, stay right in our line of business, the
cement industry. Note the reactions of the cement itself. A cement
which sets slowly, is generally speaking, strohger and better than
a quicker setting cement. More time is required during its crit¬
ical/action with the water. The slower the batter.
In conclusion, let it be said a permanent and fixed slow
speed is not wanted , , to be the best, but the above arguments and
refutations of statements are made in defense of more slowly burned
clinker.
Concerning the much mentioned avalanching of chalk, I must
say I have not noticed as much of it as I have heard of. I have seal
it at times, in one instance sufficient to be serious; but I hard¬
ly think it is guilty of all the accusations against it. There are
about a half dozen or more factors entering into the formation of
clinker i and all the faulty have been put to two or three factors
. only, let me ask how can you expect the same reactions to take
place vrith chalk feed screw at say 60 R.P.M., and kiln makes a revo¬
lution in 35 sedaids in one instance; and in another have the chalk
feed at 90 R.P.E. with the kiln at same speed, the chalk the same
in each case? It is impossible.
Finally it is understood that some of the defects due to
imperfect clinker can be in a manner atoned for by fine grinding
' and by stprage of the resulting cement. However, healing this
penance may be, innocence is the more desirable.
For stability in any thing, build slowly.
Yours truly, ■
(signed) Edward Dinan,
e.p.d.
Chemi st ,
^y/AprU 28th»_I904J_ _
Mr. Thos. A. Edison,
Orange, H. J.
Dear Sir:-
I was in Philadelphia yesterday with Mr. Gerstell, Vice President
of the Alpha Portland Cement Co., and visited Howson & Hows on, patent
lawyers, also Mr. Pusey, the lawyer whom the Alpha have retained. We
application of Mr. Roseherry e
(which was refused1)
i myself in the year 189a. about 5 months
previous to the Atlas making application. We retained Howson & Howson
to work on this case with Mr. Pusey, and in talking over things, both
Mr. Howson and Mr. Pusey were of the opinion that it would have great
bearing with, the Judge if you would give your personal opinion. These
two lawyers,, with Duncan & Duncan, of Hew York, who are the lawyers for
the Atlas Co. , would be willing to come to Orange and meet you at your
laboratory and take your testimony. It would hot be necessary for you
to go into Court.
I think you will realize that it is very necessary that we
should all do out utmost to win this fight, as it would effect all of us
materially should the Atlas obtain judgement in their favor. May I not
write Howson & Howson and Mr. Pusey and' inform them that a meeting at your
laboratory-. : y to take $&stlmqnytwill be satisfactory? This would
II)
Sheet #2
probably he arranged for some day next week, or week after.
Awaiting your reply, I am.
LEHIGH PORTLAND CEMENT CO.,
Mr. Thos . A. Edison. 4/28/1904.
Atlas Co. vs. Alpha Co.
‘ Kr. Charles A. Matcham,
Mgr. Lehigh Portland Cement Co.,
' Allentown, Pa.
Dear sir:-
April 29, . 1904
Your favor of the 28th inBt. has "been referred to me.
Mr. Edison is entirely willing to give you a deposition in the suit
if , in his opinion, he could. do thi3 effectively. Por this pur¬
pose, he suggests that you should send me a copy of 3uch testimony
as may have already been taken, together with copies, of such pa¬
tents and publications as you may rely on to invalidate the Hurrey
and Seaman iJatent, in order that 1 may look into the case and ad¬
vise him of its present situation.
Yours very truly,
-PLD /m.
Atlas Co, Suit. May 10, 1904.
Thomas A. Edison, Esq.,
Orange, H. J. <
Dear Sir:-
Suit lias teen brought by the Atlas Company against
the Martins Creek Portland Cement Company, but the defense is evi¬
dently being handled by the Lehigh and Alpha Companies.
The defendants make use of a coal burning apparatus
wherein air pressures of from 4 to 8 ounces are used supplied by
a Root blower. The Hurry and Seaman patent Ho. 645, 031 of March
6th, 1900 describes a high pressure apparatus, the patent re¬
ferring to "20 pounds to the square inch, or thereabout". The
under-lying feature of the invention is in injecting a core of
pulverised rcoai and air insufficient to support combustion and draw¬
ing into the kiln a surrounding envelope of hot air to make the
combustion perfect. The patent says: “So far as we are aware, we
are the first to successfully and practically burn. cement material
into cement-clinker by the use of pulverized carbonaceous fuel in-
jeoted into the rotary furnace by means of an air-jet". So far -
aB I can determine, this statement is correct, and the Hurry & Sea¬
man patent does, in fact, represent the first suggestion of the use
of pulverized fuel in arotary cement kiln. The Atlas people, .
therefore, are seeking to have the patent construed as broadly cov-
T.A.E. 2,
ering all rotary cement 3d. Ins in which pulverized fuel is injected
longitudinally of the kiln, the necessary air to support combust¬
ion heing dravaniin by the injeotive action of the blast and by the
natural draught through the kiln. “The defenses which are being
urged are:
. Eirst - irone-infringement. (a) Because the patent must be
limited to a process using a high pressure like that produced by
a piston compressor as distinguished from a low pressure produced
by a fan or blower, (b) because the patent' is limited to a separate
combustion chamber connected with bjit independent of the kiln it-
’
self and (c) because with a low pressure blast there is more or less
impingement.
1 Second - lack of invention, (a) Because; the desirability
of securing a heating effect in an open space by radiation rather
than by impingement of the flame on the material treated, has been
recognized ever since 'the invention of the Siemens regenerative
furnace, (b) because in vie-W of the prior suggestions of burning
gas or oil the possibility of burning pulverized fuel in the same
way would be obvious and (c) because pulverized fuel has in fact
been burned in other furnaces, and no invention would be required i
to use it in a rotary cement furnace.
So far as the defenses (b) and (c) on the question of non-
infringement are concerned, I think they are’ without force, since '
there seems to' be no evidence that there is impingement of the
flame in the defendants* apparatus, nor does the separate oombustion
chamber appear to be regarded In the patent as essential. It 1b
possible that the Court might limit the patent to a high pressure
device and thereby all|| the present defendants to escape, but
this would evidently not help the Edison Company.
The defense of lack of invention may be persuasive, al¬
though the fmant who first accomplishes the desirable result is
favorably considered by the Courts. Yet if it could be shown that
whenj the price of oil was increased, the use of pulverized coal
was immediately taken up that fact would indicate a degree of ob-
•yiousness.
°n the whole, I am impressed with two things, first, that
this is a very dangerous case and, second, that Mr. Duncan, attor- 1
ney for the Atlas Cos® any, is an ’exceptionally able man in this art
and very much more familiar with the subject that' Mr. Pusey, who
represents the defendants. There is the danger in your giving a
deposition that, going into t&e base that you are not familiar With
the details of and without full preparation, admissions Mght be
secured by Mr. Duncan, which would embarrass you in the Went of
a suit against your Company. On the other hand, a deposition tf*om
you would carry great weight because of your reputation and ofyour
familiarity with the art. Even if the patent is not invalidated
but if the suit is decided against the Atlas Company ohithegrourrk of,
non-infringement, there would always be a certain moral weakness
in the Atlas case. It was therefore undoubtedly a tactical mistake
the part of Mr. Duncan to bring the suit against a low pressure
I
T.A.E. 4.
apparatus rather than against a high pressure apparatus. Should
you give a deposition it ought not, in ay opinion, go beyond these
points:
1. A reference to the well recognized engineering practice
of securing a heating effect by radiation as originally suggested
by Siemens.
2. An expression of your opinion that in view of the use of
oil and gas, the employment of pulverized coal would be obviouB.
3. The well recognized possibility of using a blast of pul¬
verized coal as a substitute for gas or a blast of oil.
A deposition strictly confined to these points could not,
to my mind, be hurtful, although if you read the cross-examination
by Mr. Duncan of the witnesses Gerstell, prenail and Brooks, you
will see the kind of a cross-examination that you will undoubtedly
be subject to.
Yours very truly,
eed/mm.
Hurry & seamen Patent.
Mr. Henri Hatch,
i 5 Sheridan Square, '
. Hew York City.
Dear Mr. Hatch: -
Your favor of the 20th inst. lias "been received.
I think you will find all work in connection with powdered coal
to lae subsequent to 1866 and possibly later than 1880. I don't
quite understand the distinction which you draw between "coal dust"
and “powdered coal". Of|course, if the dust carries considerable
quantities of slate and other, non-carbonaoeous material it would
not answer the purpose, but otherwise X see no distinction between
coal in a natural pulverulent form and 'coal which has been purpose¬
ly powdered.
TRe Edison Portland Cement (g.
Telegraph and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J.
P. O. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
June 23, 1904.
Literature, etos
Mr. Irani L. Dyer,
Edison laboratory,
Orange , N. J.
Dear Sir:-
Under separate cover, I am sending you today, such literature
as I expect to he of use to you in your studies on the rotary kiln. X
will leave them in your own good care as long as you '/risk and v/ill he
pleased to furnish you any others which come tn my notice. Also should
you at any time come to any reference to a technical paper, have in
mind that I live close to the Lehigh University Library, vhich is open
day and ni^ht^iid° where most of the leading technical j ournals can he
reached.
You will note the interesting figures on pa&e 68, Vol. 12, Ho. 5;
conpare with the results obtained at the Alpha Plant. Newburry took care
to allow no coal to be blown in while cooling. At any rate you will see
how far forward the raw material travels undecomposed.
^et, a clear conception of the changes occuring to the chalk
during its passage through the kiln. The Ash of the coal is not con¬
sidered in the case cited; it will have its effect, although it is
slight. Note that 100 lbs., chalk gives about 64 pounds clinker and
36 pounds gas.
Hare are a few thoughts on the subject as a whole j
Old stationary kiln pmctice with heating like in a limekiln,
consumes as low as only 50 pounds coal per barnl cement.
Hrom i,athhury & S packman, cement Engineers, of Philadelphia,
I read under the description of what they term their type of .rotary
kiln (1902) (ordinary 80' kiln like any other).
"The capacity and coal consumption of a rotary kiln Varies with
its size and nature of the raw materials burned, the fonaar being frcm
126 to 200 pounds cement per day of 24 hours, the latter from 100 pounds
to 175 pounds per barrel of cement produced."
Best 60* practice cannot come under. 105 pounds. I note"
figures a few years ggo, for 60' kiln; 200 in 24 hours; 134
pounds coal.
The 100 and 105 pounds you hear of is the bestrXuu^
Book at 60* kiln and you notice regilar puffings, continuously
i& i the smoke rolls out and then for a moment at intervals of 6 to 8
seconds it "flareB" up and then quiets; slow roll of smoke for
ids.- kison kiln showi
about 6 to 8 seconds. Edison kiln shows nothing like this, the
Edison shows a constant outpouring of smoke.
It is the exception to have clear smoke with a 60' kiln under
hard driving. You nearly always find the smoke dark. It is remarked
when clear.
In 60' kiln you notice when kiln working with a good load,
intermittent rumbling with puffing of gas out of the front openings
Mr.y.L.D.. ....3.
(at coal end) of the kiln. You do not notice this with Edison.
You nearly always notice the smell of hydrogen sulphide
(& sometimes sulphur drioxide) about the rear of tbs 60' kilns.
\4-j_S -/»—• rytrUL*. -*-% W
This indicates unoxidixed sulphur escaping or when the * l
sulphur dioxide is noticed, it indicates it“Ais being burned, probably
just as it leaves the kiln; G'W'.
Complete combustion would allow no hydrogen sulphide to escape.
A more thorough heating is insured with Edison kiln.
Edison handles a larger mass under heat and thereby saves heat
otherwise necessary to heat the surroundings. This not only insures
a better reaotion between the molecules^but saves heat.
In a 60* kiln, about one hour is required for passage of
material thrcngh kiln. In 150*, about one hour and 40 minutes depends
on speed of rotation and pitch, but an hour is about right for average
60' kiln, which on an average make a revolution in l-l/4 to 2 minutes,
while Edison revolves in about 30 to 40 seconds at present.
lathbury & Spackman, say under the chemical and physical
properties of portland cement (1902) "Not withstand ihg the brilliant
investigations of noted scientists, the chemistry of portland cement is,
a subject not thoroughly understood. By long experience in its manufac¬
ture, we are able to draw from the results of many analyses the safe
limits of the essential ingredients butt'the manner in which these simple
ingredients are bound together „and the changes they undergo during the
setting of the cement. are not clear.)*
In considering what tales place in the travel of raw material
through the kiln to clinker note< the following figures. The analysis
taken if from one in actual practice. What is to occur in burning 1b
worked out thrord^ically and pactice c etnas very close to the figures
given for calculated c anposit ion of clinkeri
In 100 lbs., raw Changes during Left after bur- Gives clinker _eait utnXbS
material we have burning _ ning 100 lbs, of ccmpoBltion
TBa. ~ ’ lb's'. “*
Silica 13.67 None 13.67 20.79
Oxide of Iron 2.09 " 2.09 3.22 Which
Alumina 5.59 » 5.59 8.63 is
Carb. of Lime 74.46 44^ goes off as 41.70 64.38 pulverized
gas; leaving lime to
cement
" Magnesia 3.60 52.4JS goes off as 1.72 2.65
gas; leaving mag*a
Moisture organic All lost
matter etc. _ .59 altogether _ 0.00 _
100.00 lbs. - - - 64.77 lbs. clinker
The ash in. the coal has not been considered; it will
have its effect although slight.
Kiln No. 7, July 6, 1899, Alpha, 60* long. Material in
kiln noted after kiln -had been shut down for 4 days. Was allowed to
cool with very littie turning. Beginning at the coal end the following
was noted in going through.
Clinker changing from hard to the soft lumps or accretions
beginning a few feet from the mouth back to 14’ where no cohering masses
were found. A yellow powder beginning at 10' continuing to 20’, i.e.,
overlapping 4» of the beginning olinker formations. Irom 20 and 30' the
Mr.S’.L.D,
change from a yellowish to. a darker powder noticed: although at 40 there
was still same 'yellowish powder. Erom 40 where there exists some
yellowish powder a change to pure dark undecamposed mate rial was, evident,
showtg no signs, of decomposition whatever. — • <-uS
“ A little allowance must he made for a slight forward movement
of the material while the kiln is turned during cooling.
This was a bottle shaped kiln; diameter from front to 33*
being S'S"; between 33 and 38 the kiln tapers to internal diameter of
. 5*8" . Diameters measured with brick in, ’of course.
Ho.
Insoluble
&llice ous
matter.
19.88
19.24
18.24
17.56
16.42
16.94
16.94
17.28
17.28
17.16
17.10
10.20
8.50
8.38
7.12
6.30
3.66
3.60
2.44
2.46
ZAO
2.30
lime
21.02
61.41
50.72
57.52
53.04
48.51
44.01
42.82
43.16
43.03
.Wfc
43.16
0.99.
2.76
2.22
2.51
1.73
• 1.71
’4
Kagnesla.
^ ~ SMa+jl h Xjma{. “ 0, t) 6—
V- H \6.*V7 •**. *«•
Mr.J.L.D. .
5k.<_
«? ^ r ^ *'*7^
The amount of carbonic acid (CO2) was not detennined but
was present in all samples except No. 1. It was of course, greatest in
No. 12 the fresh raw raiotute in the kiln, about 34^ and decreased as the
samples read from No. 12 to No. 1 where practically none was present.
Coal dust was also present, having been blown in and becaning
mixed with the material. Coal via. a found in decreasing amounts from No. 1
to and including No. 4i
Sample No. 1 contained a great deal of coal as might be
inferred from the analysis given. This came from the last unconsumed
coal blown in as the kiln stopped; no doubt some of it came from the
few rotations given the kiln in cooling. This must have taken place to
a little extent as you notice the material from No. 12 forward to No. 8,
30', showed practically no decomposition. Thirty feet is a little too
far from the rear end to go undecomposed.
At any rate count on this; it is the unusual condition in 60*
kiln practice to have clear smoke' issuing from the stack. A kiln is
said to be working very- nice and is not hustling when emitting clear
smoke. So that there is usually throughout the kiln unconsumed carbon.
Some of this gets mixed with the material and comes on towards the front :
: of the kiln again while its combustion occurs while mixed with the chalk .
and the then f orming' clinker. 'K&4'
'Or CQ4KijiftXtK o£c^ woW'. 6 0
•••.. ■ ABC anything new occurs to me, WI will send it to you .
(X &ii Aatlm
TKe Edison Portland Cement ( q .
Telegraph and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J.
P. O. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
June 27, 1904.
Mr, E. L. Dyer,
Edison laboratory,
Orange, H. J.
Dear Sir:-
1 tlo4 )
The temperatures at base of stack in 60 ft. kilns are close to
1300 degrees E. in actual practise the following figures were taken:-
1480- 1380 - 1050 - 1290 - 105Q, - 1400 - 1620; average 1330.
By Edison removing ©o much C.0.2 so far back as he does the
amount of chalk (then carbonated) is so great as to account in a large
measure for the increased efficiency. That is if you decarbonate (only)
chalk in one 60 ft. kiln, and then fed it into another, 60 ft. kiln the
output of this other would be much more than is the case at present- of
feeding the chalk in and completing the work in one 60 ft. „ &>r example :-
A good 60 ft. kiln can clinker 200 bbls. in one day. That means about
120,000 lbs. of chalk consumed; and means also that 40,000 ibs. gaB -ri'C.0.2
must be driven off. This is usally accomplished with escaping gases of
a temperature of 1300 3?. Also the reaction takes place suddenly i/e/
the C.0.2 being driven off and the clinkering being done immediately
afterward.
The size compels’ a short reacting zone; compels the coal to be
consumed in a short length of kiln.
With Edison kiln, we have say 700 bbls. per day; this means
420,000 lbs. of chalk consumed and means 140,000 lbs. gas C.0.2 driven off.
Mr. E. L. Dyer. -•
-No. 2.
’ The escaping gases are of a leaser temperature than in the case of the
60 ft., kilns.
The length of the kiln favors a more gradual. calcining of the
chalk and thereby lengthens the part ^frrthe coal combustion. These differ¬
ences may be illustrated:-
(3 O
£2} /SO LN
Qo—aJi.
It looks to me as if v/e may say we have a kiln within a kiln.
’ That 18 our la8t half (f™m the coal end) may be temed a calcining kiln;
the first half a clinkering kiln. In shott it apperars to me as if Edison
has accomplished what was attempt by others as you may notice in the
| book - » The Cement Industry « - p. i88 to 199. In the second paragraph
p. 194 you see how Mr. Giron tried to get rid of C.0.2 before burning -
i so as to increase hie output.. His process was not practicable. Edison's '
| certainly is.
Yours truly,
G&Ksew.
Chemist. !
THe Edison Portland Cement (£>.
Telegraph and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J.
P. O. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
July 5, 1904.
in ms Kilns:
Mr. Irani L. Dyer,
. Edison Laboratory,
Orange, IT. J.
Dear Sin-
Continuing our notes on the rotary kiln, there occurs to
me the following:
ISy impression is that in Mr. Edison's description of ordinary
rotary kiln practice the statement is made that only two sets of idlerB
or supports for 60* kilns are used. I am imformed by the ex-assistant
superintendent of the Lehigh Company, that all their 60' kilns rest on 3
idlers. He stated that many of the older canpanies used 3 setsrof
idlers before they felt safe enough in using two. And further, it was
his opinion that the Atlas plant at present have 3 sets under at least
some of ' their kilns.
Referring to your book; the cement industry, note: page 58, the
picture^ and page 117, figure 70; three supports are shown.
1 also recall finding coal mixed with material in the 60»
kiln ln middle third and possibly beyond and account for it by coal
passing back unconsumed coming in contact with the cooler chalk moving
forward, becomes mixed with the latter, is churned up with it and so
advances towards the front of the kiln again where it is consumed.
)
In other words some of the -fe&sta? make s a little exaursion before it is
consumed. I noticed no unconsumed coal in our kiln, although as stated
before , 7/e made no search. It is my opinion however, none would be .
found. As stated before, unconsumed coal escaping, seems to be the rule
at the ordinary plants.
E.P.D,
Kilns:
July 7, 1904
Mr, Edward Dinan,
Edison Portland Cement Co.,
Stewart sville, H. J.
pear Sir:-
Your favors of the 5th inst. have teen received, and
1 thank you for the additional information on this subject,.
1 am glad to have you call my attention to the fact
that with the old 60 ft. kilns it has been customary to make use
of three sets of supporting rollers. I was under the' 'impression
that this was not the case, as I had assumed that the warping of a
wrought iron kiln would prevent more than two sets of rollers from
being used. >'
If iron will let me know when the kilns are running
smoothly, Iwwill arrange to come up to Stewart sville sometime when
you are not too /busy, to take up these questions with me.
■ Yours very truly.
EED/iOi,
TRe Edison Portland Cement (q.
Telegraph and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J.
P. O. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
Kiln:
July 12,, 1904.
Mr. Prank I». Dyer,
Edison Laboratory,
Orange, N. J.
Dear Sir:
There occurs to me another feature of the Edison kiln.
In the reaction of clinkering there occur| reactions which
cause an evolution of heat . That is after the materials are raised
to a sufficiently high temperature the combination ensues, and during
this combination there is a considerable evolution of heat; so much in
fact thatif it were possible to prevent all loss by radiation and
conduction, were we to erect say a cylinder and fill it with chalk
and then raise the temperature of the mixture at the bottom to the
clinkering temperature, the reaction or clinkering of all the rest
would proceed with but a very little addition of outside heat. That
is after it were once started only a very little extra amount of heat
is necessary to be added continually for the conpletion of the reaction.
Prom this it occurs to me that with our large volume of kiln
we more readily get the benefit of this heat of combination, i.e.,
we have a field in which it may work r— the large amount of material
coming after it-taking up this heat.
TKe Edison Portland Cement (g.
Telegraph and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J.
P. O. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
Kiln. — 2—
Even if there we re no heat of combination there is a greater
y
constellation of heat with the much larger mass of material under
reaction, which we handle.
In short our kiln affords a better chance for getting the
benefit of the heat of combination during clinkering and in this
is greatly|)different from the ordinary kiln.
The more I think over this the more convinced I am that
this point is an important one.' Hot about the bigness of tlB kiln
or load it carries, affording a larger field for work for the coal -
but the chance afforded for the absorbtion of so much of the heat of
reaction.
I trust the point I wish to make is clear to you.
yours truly, a
Chemist..
(X SjworL,
Edison Kiln:
July 13, 1904
Mr. Edward Dinan,
Edison Portland Cement Company,
Stewart sville, M. J.
Dear Sir:-
Your favor of the 12th inst. has been received, hut
your point is not quite clear to me.
I do not see how it makes any difference, so far as
economy is concerned, whether the heat in the kiln is due to chemi¬
cal combination within the mass or to the combustion of the coal.
Whatever may be the reason for the high efficiency of the Edison
kiln, I do not see how the two sources of heat can be disassociated,
and I wish therefore that you would make your point clearer if pos¬
sible. Of course, I appreciate the fact that with the Edison kiln
T/tfen inorease the radiating surface only about 50 per cent, while
we increase the load of material 400 or 500 per cent. Thus we pro¬
vide a much greater relative mass of material for the absorption
of heat. Has this anything to do with the point you now make?
Yours very truly,
ELD/kni,
TKe Edison Portland Cement (q.
Telegraph and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J,
P. 0. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
, m Cement. July 15, 1904.
Mr. Frank I*. Dyer,
Edison laboratory.
Orange, N. 3.
Dear Sir:
Your favor of the 13th is received, and on re-reading my
letter of the 12th I think you understand what I mean. I judge so
from the conclusion in your letter: "Thus we provide a much greater
relative mess of material for the atosorbtion of heat."
To illustrate more clearly 2- (A) Take 100 lbs. chalk and
place in a box of size capable of holding 3000 lbs . Now clinker this
and consume an amount of heat allowing for losses, = X. (B) . Take
this same box and place in it 1000 lbs. of chalk and clinker it. The
amount of heat needed to clinker it will be less that 10X. That is,
100 lbs. requires X units of heat, tut 1000 lbs. does not require 10X
units although ot is 10 times the weight.
t’/e must first supply heat for all lost by radiation, conduct¬
ion, etc. in the case of 1°° lbs. Then the 002 must be driven off
and the temperature of the then calcined chalk raised to the temperature
of reaction; then the ingredients react, the lime combining with the
silica, and the othee molecular changes taking place. Now when these
combinations take place, a considerable quantity of heat i3 evolved,
but in the case of the 1°° 15s mass the reaction takes place so very
quickly that there ls practically no time between. the first? 10 lbs. and
TKe Edison Portland Cement (6.
Telegraph and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J.
P. O. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
Cement --2-
the last 10 lbs . so that all this heat of combination is carried off in
the gases.
In the case of the 1000 lbs . in the box, the quantity is so
large that you do not raise practically all of' it; to the temperature
of reaction at the same time; part of it closest to the source of heat
reaches the required temperature first; the reaction ensues and the
heat of reaction is (of course together with that from the original source
of heat) taken up by the material in contact ywhich lat^r then clinkers
and gives out heat, which in turn is absorbed by material next in contact
with it.' In this way the reaction '•grows'’ as it were.
Of course it takes a longer time for 1000 lbs . to react than
for 100 lbs. but not 10 times as long because after that part of the
material which f^rst reaches the clinkering temperature ( say first
bottom layer of 100 lbs.) has reacted, this heat of reaction penetrates
farther up into the mass (supposing the source or heat to be from below
the box) and'^ingsTjabout the reaction of the second 100 lbs, layer. In
this way the reaction grows, and as.it were increases in velocities you
ascend through the box.
IShat may be in a manner be practical demonstration of these
statements is found in the working of an upright stationary cement kiln,
buil^Tlike an ordinary lime kiln — and filled with alternate layers of
coal and of chalk mixture moulded into brick3. In such a kiln as r. •
low as 50 lbs. of coal produces a barrel of cement of 380 lbs. Of course
TKe Edison Portland Cement Q>.
Telegraph and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J.
P, O. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
hare there is less loss by radiation, and use is made of flower products
of combustion in passing up and out at the top; but also the topmost
part of the layers of chalk bricks or rock immediately absorb^ the heat
of reaction of the lower parts, and""gfeve it work to do" — which
would not so well be the case if the layers were not so thick.
Similarly then with our greater load we have a field for operation for
this heat of reaction. We carry a larger mass of material which may
be said to surround that part which is reacting, and so "soak up" as it
were this heat of reaction. If we had a thinner stream or lesser
quantity of material this heat of reaction would of course be evolved^ —
would not all be so thoroughly communicated to the material folldwing
urouAJo
it, but -j» more likely -Wr escape by conduction and by being carried off
in the gases.
The larger mass favors the better absorbtion of the heat of
combination than does the smaller mass.
I trust you will understand the point I wish to make, which,
however, we can discuss at our next meeting.
We have now two kilns in operation and expect the third in
full operation in about a week.
Very truly yours.
Edison Kiln.
July 19,1904.
Mr. Edward Dinan,
EdiBon Portland Cement Company,
Stewartsville, H.J.
Dear Sir:-
Your favor of the 18th. Inst, has been received,
calling my attention to the fact that on page 110 "The Cement
Industry", dangers are described in kiln stacks of the plant of
the Ita. JErause & Sons Cement Company at Martins Creek, Pa. As
I understand the arrangement described, the combustion gases
paBS 3cilnB through an underground duct to the
driers, the draft in this case being maintained by a centrifugal
blower. Apparently, the dampers referred to are located in the
duct between the kiln and the drier. The articles state that
"If the drier is not in use, certain dampers may be
closed and others opened, causing the waste gases to pass out
through the usual kiln stacks".
This is not very clear, but | do not think it necessar|ly means
that a damper is used in the stack itself. At any rate, I be¬
lieve that Edison's idea comprehends more than merely introducing
a damper in the stack. He tells me that heretofore, the stacks
No. 2 Edward Dinan.
have been made of a capacity to accommodate the average or normal
conditions, and that the draft has then been regulated for varying
the coal feed and the injected air. If a damper were used in
such a stack, it would only be of utility if the draft conditions
Improved, as in that case the draft would have to be ohoked more
or less. If, however, the draft conditions become worse, no
possible regulation of the damper could help matters and raoourse
would have to be had to the air and coal feed. With the Edison
kiln, however, I understand that the stack is of much great ar
relative capacity, and that it is able to furnish the necessary
draft under the moat unfavorable conditions. Hence , as the con¬
ditions improve, it becomes possible to effect the regulation
entirely by this damper by merely choking the draft to a greater
or less extent.
In view of the doubt which I have as to the exact looa-
the
tion and function of the dampers at Martins Creek Plant, I wish
you would look into the matter and advise me on two points}
first Was there a damper in eaoh kiln stack?
seoond - if so, too eaoh stack of : sufficient capacity to
operate under the most unfavorable conditions?
Yours very truly,
HD/ABE.
UTe Edison Portland Cement ( q .
Telegraph and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J.
P. O. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
August 6, 1904.
it.- iui Roaeters:
Mr. Frank L, Dyer,
Ed. is on Laboratory,
Orange, N. J.
Dear Sir:-
Replying to your favor of the 19th ult., relative to dampers
in stacks of Martins Oreek eement Co's kilns, I may hate that as far as
I am able to learn there was not a damper in each of the kiln stacks,
nor was any use made of any dampers for the securing of more efficient
working of the kiln.
My information comes from an Engineer who inspected the plant
immediately after its transfer to the Alpha Company. He stated the
whole device for drying stone by the kiln gasses was never used, and
that the description of such an arrangement, waB a description of what
was expected to, but did not work.
3o far X am unable to locate a certain party who was connected
with the company from its organization until the fall of 1902, and from
whom X can learn exactly what the arrangement was.
Erom other sources, I feel sur^ ho wever, that no use, such as
that to which we put ours, was made of dampers in the stacks.
Concerning the use of dampers by other people, I may state
the only way they have of changing the force of the draught wiih the aamo
coal, chalk and air feed, is by means of a door in the brick work base of
the Btacks. By opening this door cool air is drawn in, thereby decreasing
Mr.S.L.D. .... .2,
the "pull" of the stack, as youwill readily understand. This is the only
kind of damper I know of as having been in use.
I will oontinue inquiry into thi3 matter and will advise you
further.
■B.P.D,
Yours very truly,
Edison Kiln:
Edward 'Dinan , Esq.,
q/o Edison Portland Cement Company,
Stewartsvllle, N. J.
Dear Sir:-
Have the recent operations of the Edison kiln under
your observation thrown any additional light on the general ques¬
tions of novelty and patentability? Particularly, have you as¬
certained what -the chemical reactions are throughout the length of
the kiln? You said when we last talked over this matter that at
the first opportunity you would make an analysis of the product
of the kiln at regular intervals throughout its length. If you
have done this, it ought to throw a great deal it light on what has
heretofore been largely a matter of speculation.
In order that I may be definitely advised from ac¬
tual experience, I wish you would answer the following questions:
What is the speed per minute of material passing
through the Edison kiln compared to that of the old kiln?
What is the rate of rotation of the Edison kiln and
of the old kiln?
How does the load in the Edison kiln compare with that
of the old kiln?
TRe Edison Portland Cement (g
Telegraph and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J.
P. O. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
Septenber 29, 1904.
Mr . Prank L . Dyer,
Edison Laboratory,
Orange, H . J.
Dear Sir:-
& &&
Replying toyyour favor of the 27th, inst . concerning our
Kilns will state that the spaed penjninute is a very variable quanity.
We have our Kilns Ho. 3 and 4 line3 v/ith corrugated brick in the rear
95 feat . This of course results in the propulsion of- the Chalk. etc., in
these kilns at a more rapid rate than in the case of Kilns Ho. 1 and 2
which are smooth lined. Por thus reason and because we have not fully
decided upon a fixed speed of Kiln, the speed per minute of the
material passing through the Kiln is not . constants neither is it a ■
constant at other plants, but as on average so far we may give the •, .>
following 'figures:' «
Edison Kiln-Speed per minute - -3.75 f eet .
• SO foot Kiln- " •' " " ——0.60 » .
The rates of rotation average about as follows:
. Edison Kiln- 1 Revolution -- 33 seconds.
60 .Foot Kiln- 1- " —100
- As to the average comparative loads in the Kilns the 60 foot;
Kiln has slightly the greater load per foot.
I have one sot of samples at regular distances throughout
the entire length of kiln, but regret that by reason of our closing
Hu. F. L. D.
down ive huve no longBr the Laboratory facilities for making these';..: .
analysfis .
It may be well to call your attention to the fact that the
speed per minute, rate of. rotation, and load per foot are all. variables
and are adjusted to suit conditions prevailing. For the 60 foot Kiln
100 seconds can be-talcen as a general average, while Edisotib at present
SI
are averaged about which rate however, cannot be stated as our constant .
In any' -ev^nt all Kilns should be and nearly all are arranged
so that their a»wed etc. can be changed at will .
Very truly yours.
(X &fi4nu
kiflnS: 4
TKe Edison Portland Cement (q.
Telegraph and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J.
P. O. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
June
Mr. E. L. Dyer,
Edison Laboratory,
©range , N . J.
Dear Sir:-
I have oarefully noted and studied over your letter of the
relative to the rotary kilfc and after full consideration. have the following
reply to make. I will answer in the order of your paragraphs.
pirst ; I am reasonably certain that in the Edison kiln substantially
all the oarbonic acid is driven off before the combustion zone is reached,
9nd this gives us more perfect combustion. I of course do not maintain that,
someoff^the. coal is not burned as far in the kiln where some, carbonic acid
is coming off. I do maintain that we have a very much longer .zone of car-
’..j
bonic acid free material, over which material combustion can be more readily
maintained. I am sure enough we can assert this distinction and make it a
basis for our patent. Attached you will find one of the curves taken from
"Cement & Engineering. .News" showing the changes in material as determined •
on samples from a kiln at the Dexter Plant. On this same sheet X have drawn
the cufvd representing the change injnaterial in case of an Alpha kiln in
July 1899. It is about the eame^so you see we are reasonably safB in stating
/that the changes in the 60 foot kiln are about as represented. I did not
determine the Q 02 or loSS on Ignition in the Alpha case; this C02 or Loss
in Ignition decreases as the amount of lime increase®, so knowing one we
can estimate the other. It is perfectly plain that we are not crowded in
our. combustion zone , and that by reason of the greater volume of space
: free from COg from the material we secure a much better economy of fuel,.;.
E.L.D. ,2. .June 17, 1905.
However, In the face of all tils, if the 60 foot kiln he run on a lighter
load, or driven slower, it might he made to have a proportionately large
COg frgig apace for coal combustion. Also if we drive our 150 foot kiln
too hard, i.e., by crowding in t oo much material or running too raiidly
we could also decrease the economy of fuel in our kiln. But in' practical
everyday working we have a longer zone where the material under reaction
is free' from CO2,
‘ Looking at our 150 foot curve you notice we have at least 35 feet
free from COg:- and our kiln is 150 feet long, looking at the 60 feot
kiln you see we have 5 to say 8 f-et free from COg.
Brora these figures many interesting ratios can he noted. Bor
instance 35 to 8 is the ratio of the output per hour of the two kilns and
'yet- tie length are as 2-l/2.to 1. Bettee than this the output of the
Edison kiln is even more than 35 hhls. per hour and although foreign to
this letter 1 may say I believe considerably more.
Second: I cannot say that in the old 60 foot kiln the clinker is
imperfect. On the other hand I know, it is veiy often as far as I am able
to judge as perfect as ours. But I believe it may he, or was, more often the.
case to find soft centered clinker frcm 60 foot kilns than from our 150
r foot kilns. I did not make any experiment for Hr. Edison of removing the
soft centers and examining them. I have examined such clinker however,
(and know that the soft centers are very poof^cement. I have taken soft
"clinker" like the soft centers in hard shell clinker and found it to get
mushy and soft on boiling In water after it ha3 been set. for a little time.
Thos .showed It to be poor.
This matter depends entirely on how thoroughly it be burned and
it can probably/aoooraplished in a '60 foot kiln as well as in a 150 foot
providing you go slow enough with the 60 foot , ±e . , this could be done .
as}(an: experiment.
Kr ,r.L.D.'.3. ..Tune 17, 1905.
Third;' I cannot at present cite any instance in the cement art
where the desirability of a slow reaction has been pointed out. I think ksu/W&r
it is obvious that a slower reaction is the more desirable. In chemistry
in general, I may make the statement, "slow reactions for stability of
resulting product". In the steel industry, we have the slow and gradually
made Open Hearth steel generally believed superior to Bessemer; the Open
Hearth consuming about two hours an^ the Bessemer about 12 to 15 minutes,
during time of reaction. I will^hunt up a parallel to this in the cement
Industry or the Qeranjic Industry andif I find ..any will let you know
immediately. As an illustration of the .desirability of a slow reaction,
I may give the oase of slow setting cement as compared with quick setting
one. It is well known that the quick setting cement will not give the
strong permanent testing morter the slow setting one will. This is an
illustration right in our own field to show the desirability of slow
reaction.
I do not lay the superiority of our cement to the manner of
making the clinker as much I do to the fact thatit .is first a more nearly j;
neutral cement than most others, ie., carries no excess of lime; it is a j
crushed cement ; and by reason of the fineness to which it is ground and the
manner of grinding we really produce more cement per pound of our article, 1
and therefore there is more rea.1 cement in a given weight of Edison brand
than in the aai e weight of the other's. The tests were made by different
operators working under my instructions. V/e have several reports from
outside labbratories that are superior even to those. Do not however make s
any claim that the superiority shown is due to thd kind of clinker - even
in part; I could not give positive. evidence on this point, although my
opinion is that some of the qualities of our cement are from the manner of '
the clinker formation. . ■ i
F.I.D. 1%. ,‘iune 17, 1905.
Fourth: I have not determined the temperatureof our stack
gases, hut expect to do so as well as considerable other work on the kilns,
all of which information we can then furnish you. Some few years ago I
took stack temperatures' on 60 foot kilns and found as follows: 1480-1380-
1050t129071050-1400-1620 5 average - 1330. All Fahrenheit . Newberry gives
1500°F as the approximate temperature of the inside of the kilns where -
it enters the base.' of the stack. Richards , "Jr. American Chemistry Society"
January 1904 finds a stock temperature of 1508°F. In general we may give
1300° to 1500° as the steak temperature of a 60 foot kiln. The stack tem¬
perature of Edison kiln ’under normal working, I know to be considerably
less - merely from observation. I understand of course this statement
not, of course, stand and we must back it up by actual observations; but
I know the red appearance of the inside of the base of the stafcks for the
60 foot kilns shows it to be much hotter than the dark stank base we have.
I'll attend to this matter of stack temperature very shortly and promptly
advise you.
Concerning other points may be relied upon for patentability,
I cannot think of any at this writing that I believe you have not covered.
As to .the rate of travel of material through kilns. . I. was not
with the Edison Company prior to July 1903. I learn however that the speed
of rotations, of the kiln v/as in December 1902 about 55 seconds. It would be
proper to say the material is fed through the kiln at any desired rate
comwpn in the art. ■ 'Where our kilns were normally, about 55 seconds, the
60 foot were from 70 seconds up to 100 or 120 seconds, to suit the material
■burned and the ideas of the manufacturers. .Edison can hardly say be
increased his inside diameter more than any others for he has not; in fact
I am «9lmost certain Bopie of the 60 foot kilns have a diameter greater than
I’.L.D.
.June 17, 1905. .
ours , and have had for some time. His s lie 11s may 'be larger, hut the
Inside dl smeter of his kiln is not from six inches to a foot greater than
any other kUn.
At the jre sent time we are turning out about 4 and again 5
times the amount of the ordinary kiln*' hut where the ordinary kiln makes a
revolution in from 75 to 100 seconds, the>.Edison kiln now makes a revolution
in 30-35 seconds. So at this speed we can produce clinker where it would
he impossible to do so with a 60 .foot kiln.
The question of the load in the kiln is .such a variable one, I
do not think it would be safe for us to say we have a oertain load eanpared
to a certain load in the 60 foot kiln. We can say this, that we have a
much greater load. This is obvious. At present vie make about 30 bbls
not
clinker per hour and are^ urging the kiln; we do this at 32 seconds per
revolution. How a 60 foot mates 8 bbls. clinker per hour and 'has a. revo- - -
lution in say 75 seconds.
Hot having been here in 1902 I cannot, advise you clearly on the
point you wish, but the output of the kilns was not so much as it now is
nor was it as good.
Should any new ideas occur tome on this subject. I will
inmediately write you. Also let me knovmof any more questions I may be able
to answer. a '• . •
When you have this dressed up into shape,, or about to. do so, I
would like to, see it before you finally close on it as something might
ooour to me we might add or we may elaborate more clearly. Therefore .if
you will advise me a few days ahead I will be pleased to- go over this
. matter in person with you,
I son sending you under ' separate
Edison curve and the 60 foot curve.
cover two oopies each of the
I’.I.iD. a 6. .June 17, 1905»
' One thing is certain vie have 3 definite zones -in our kiln in
destination to the case of the 60 foot kiln where in Newberry’s article
he says the change is a gradaul one and we have, unexpectedly perhaps,
accomplished what has been' attempted before preliminary calcination {driving
off carbonic acid) and' then ciinkering. See "Cement Industry" 1900
Page 194. 11 The absence of carbonic acid gas in the material facilitates
wonderfully the operation of the rotary kiln" etc.
Hoping this may be gotten, into shape soon, and that you under¬
stand my reasoning, which I could perhaps explain better verbally, I am,
[ENCLOSURE]
From Cememt andEngweeriwg A/ews; /r6e 69, Vol.'KH.NoF-
Nov.
18,1905.
Walter S. Mallory, EBq. ,
Edison Portland Cement Company,
Stewartsville , N.J.
Dear Mr. Mallory:-
I have carefully looked into the question
°f tcemen^im of the Or0"MlllinS Syndicate to Mr. Edison’s
f oreighmpwtents , and find the situation to he as follows:-
The original agreement with the Syndicate does not con¬
template, in terms at least, anything except the specific ore-
milling patents referred to therein and improvements thereon.
In 1900, two patents ware taken out, one relating indirectly and
the other, directly to cement. The first of theBe patents was
taken out by Mr. Edison, and 'ti'ke'^^^gned to the Syndicate, and
the second patent was taken out by the Syndicate directly. In
July 1900, Mr. Edison wrote the Syndicate that cement patents
were not included "under the terms of the original contract", and
he requested Mr. Dick to bo advise the Syndicate. On August 2,
1900, the Syndicate wrote Mr. Edison on the point and said:-
"You will remember that in all your previous
correspondence and especially in your speech to the
shareholders in December last, you admit that the
cement rights are ’controlled by the Syndicate. ft
In your speech, after dealing with the cement
_ works and the plant that was being erected, and _ >;
W.S.M.
the improvements that were being made in the same,
you go on to urge the shareholders not to part
•with any rights for any purpose whatsoever until
these two (cement) millB have demonstrated commer¬
cially the valuable rights controlled by the Syndi¬
cate 1 . You also go on to say that the 'experiments
are being paid for from this side, the Syndicate
realizing without expense.'
All these circumstances prove, without
falling back on the terms of the Contract, that
you regard the Syndicate as controlling all the
cement rights, which naturally include the improva-
This latter was not answered, and Mr. Edison’s Bilence in that
respect could certainly be taken as acquiescence, especially as
no steps were taken by him to promptly correct the error which
he Btates occured in my brother's office. Apparently, nothing
was done by him until June 1902, when our attention was called
to the mistake, and we were requested to write the Syndicate and
demand a re-assignment of the patents. On June 25th, 1902, the
Syndicate wrote us as follows:-
"This matter has been duly considered by the
Board of Directors, and we desire to point out that
this subject was discussed as far back as July 1900,
whan Mr. Edison raised the question whether one
particular patent should have been communicated to
us.
Mr. Lawrence, the Chairman of this Syndicate,
immediately wrote a long letter to Mr. Edison (copy
enclosed) pointing out that it had always been
completely understood from Mr. Edison's letters
and speeches that this Syndicate was to have the
benefit of cement patents and in 1900, Mr. Dick
with Mr. EdiBon's conourrenoe and sanction, on be¬
half of this Syndicate, entered into hegotiations
in England for the sale of these patents to an im¬
portant cement combine.
There are additional circumstanoes besides
those mentioned in Mr. Lawrence's letter whioh un¬
doubtedly indicate Mr. Edison's intention to hand
over cement patents to this Syndicate, in which he
himself is so largely interested."
W.S.M.
We sent you a copy of this letter from the Syndicate , and on
July 10th, 1902, you wrote us on Mr. Edison* b behalf that -
"There 1b no question but what the Syndicate are
entitled to the Cement rights on all machinery
which cornea in under the contract, but the machinery
and devices designed specially for Cement work
and invented after the contract was made, doea
not go to them without further consideration :ijjnSmri"
Apparently, we again wrote the Syndicate on the lines of your
letter, because on September 22, 1902, we advised Mr. Edison
that the Syndicate had written us to the effect that -
"It has been arranged that the consideration of
the matter shoiild be postponed until Mr. Dick
is next in England, whan a settlement satisfactory
to all parties can no doubt be arranged".
On October 24th, 1902, the Syndicate wrote a letter to Mr. Edison
in which they said:-
"Mr. Diok fully explained your views with
regard to the cement patents which have been commun¬
icated to us by Messrs, Dyer, Edmonds & Dyer and
the feeling was at once expressed by all the Direc¬
tors that there was no wish whatsoever on our part
to ask you to give us any patent rights to which
we are not entitled, and which might be considered
not to be covered by t,he scope of the original
agreement with the Syndicate. .
We do not wish in any way to take advantage
of the fact that these cement patents have been
communicated to us and that we have filed patent
applications on them here and abroad.
In order to recognise the principle of the
ownership of the patents the Directors have re¬
solved to offer y ou a percentage of profits in re¬
spect of any patent improvements invented by, you
being used hereafter, such improvements not being
W.S.M. - 4,
covered by the original contract, and Mr. hick
has been asked to consult with you on the matter
upon his return to the United States.
We trust that you may consider this sugges¬
tion a fair one and that it may meet your wishes,
but the Directors are anxious that it Bhould not
be felt for one moment that there 1b any deBire
on their part to ask for more patent rightB than
they are entitled to, or which you may feel will¬
ing to place at their disposal in the interests of
all concerned."
The last letter on the point I find 1b one from Mr. hick, dated
October 28th, 1902, in which he says:-
"You vrf.ll have received a letter from the
Syndicate regarding the patent matter. There is
on the records of the company a resolution admitting
compensation to you for all patents outside the
original patents and practically leaving the matter
to you and myself. ■
The situation then 1b this; the Syndicate owns
several patents which are admittedly limited to cement, but as
they say in their latter of October 24th, 1902, their control
of these patents depends upon the making of a new agreement with
Mr. Edison. The cement patents thus directly owned by the Syndi¬
cate are not important. On the other hand , Mr. Edison has ob¬
tained patents, or has applications pending, in Great Britain,
Prance, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Norway, covering the
long kiln, and corresponding substantially with the patent just
granted in this country. These patents are of course, of vital
importance, and as they stand in Mr. Edison's name. Under the
circumstances, Mr. Edison is therefore in a strone position to
insist upon an equitable re-adjustment respecting his cement
W.S.M. - 5.
patents. At the same time, of course he cannot be entirely in¬
dependent of the Syndicate, beoause as you know they control the
patents on the Giant Rolls and on the Three-high Rolls, and 1
presume that if any oement plant is erected abroad, thaBe patents
would have to be used. It seems to me, therefore, that in nego¬
tiating for foreign rights, on oement, the Syndicate will have to
be taken into consideration, but undoubtedly an arrangement can
be made in which Mr. Edison's rights will be fully protected.
Yours very truly,
IXD/AHK.
Walter S. Mallory, Esq.,
c/o Edison Portland Cement Company,
Stewart sville, N.J.
Pear Sir:-
In accordance with your request 1 have looked more
carefully into the Hurry & Seaman patent No. 645,031, dated
March 6th, 1900, owned by the AtlaB Company, with t|e view
of expressing an opinion as to the probable chance of success¬
fully defending a suit based thereon against the Edison Port¬
land Cement Company. In connection with thlB consideration
of the patent, I have read all of the arguments presented by
counsel for bfeth sideB before Judge Archbold in the suit
against the Martin's grade Company, and 1 have also considered
the prior art so far as I have been able to unearth it by a
rather superficial examination. Without going elaborately
into detail, I have reached the following oonolusions.-
Pirst: In view of the fact that prior to the Hurry
ic seaman invention, the possibility of burning pulverized coal
in various arts, including the art of cement manufacture had
No. 2 - W.8.U.
been suggested, no invention in a broad sense would be re¬
quired to substitute a coal burner for the oil burners that
were commercially uBed at the date of the patent. If, there¬
fore, the patent is valid at all, it must be limited to sub¬
stantially the apparatus disclosed therein, and when so con¬
sidered, it is not infringed by the construction employed by
the Edison Portland Cement Company.
Second: The Hurry & Seaman patent points out with
great elaboration, the practical difficulties which were be¬
lieved to exist in connection with the burning of pulverized
coal. They evidently considered it necessary to muko use of
a special burner having certain peculiarities. The burner
usejt by the Edison Portland Cement Company is radically diff¬
erent from that described in the patent, and does not embody
a single one of the special features that the patentees con¬
sidered indispensable . Your burner may possibly be the re¬
sult of independent invention, for which at |east no sugges¬
tion or help would have been received from the patent. Por
this additional reason I do not believe the patent is infring¬
ed.
Third: The patent lays a special emphasis on the fact
that the fuel should bo so directed into the kiln as to be
located axially therein, so as to heat by radiation and not
by impingement. As I understand it, with your kiln there is
a very substantial impingement of the flame on the cement ma¬
terial, and therefore I consider this an additional reason why
No. 3 - V/.S.M.
the patent io not Infringed.
Fourth: The burner used by the Edison Portland Cement
Company appears to bo identical with the oil burners previous¬
ly employed,' at least, I understand it is capable of being
used convertibly, eithor for the burning of oil or coal.
This fact would indicate that the problem burning coal
was no different from that of burning oil, or olBe, that aB
above stated, your burner may be looked upon as an independent
invention. In either case, an additional argument is present¬
ed in support of the position that your burner is not an in¬
fringement .
Fifth: Before the Hurry & Seaman patent issued, many
cement plants had been equipped with coal burning apparatus,
which if the Edison plant is an infringement, would also in¬
fringe. Prior to that time (March 6th, 1900) the Edison Com¬
pany had constructed its model at Orange, and all arrangements
were made to proceed with actual installation. To give to the
patent a construction which would include the Edison plant
would destroy the value 'bf manj^millions of dollars of proper¬
ty invested in good faith before the patent issued. This pre¬
sents a strong case of equity against the patent, which the
court would have to consider in resolving any substantial
doubts of infringement in favor of the defendant.
Sixth: The prosecution in the Patent Office was \m-
favorable . The application for patent was pending more than
four years and many references were cited and substantially
acknowledged by the patentees as anticipating important fea¬
tures of their invention. A strong argument based on the his¬
tory of Iho application $n the Patent Office could bo made.
Seventh: A series quest! on is presented whether before
the Hurry & Seaman invention was made, the invention had not
boen independently made by Mr, Matcham of the Alpha Company.
Of course, now that the Alpha Company is favorable to the
patent, difficulty would, no doubt, be experienced in the pro¬
duction of proof on this point. . I do not believe, however,
that the Atlas Company could afford to absolutely obstruct
any efforts to prove priority of invention on the part of the
Alpha Company,
Por these reason and for others which, no doubt, would arise
in case. Ja suit was actually brought, I am of the opinion that
a successful defence could be made against the Hurry & Seaman
patent.
P1D/ARK,
Yours very truly,
BOX No":
Eeb. 6, 1907
Walter S. Mallory, Esq.,
Edison Portland Cemont Company,
Stewartsville, N. J.
Dear Mr. Mallory: —
When you were last here we diBouBBed with
Mr. Edison the advisability of bringing suit against the Atlas
Company, and I thought it was. agreed that it should be dope. I
therefore, prepared a bill of complaint, ' but upon submitting
it to Mr. Edison yesterday he thought it would be unv/iBe to
bring suit against the Atlas people, because they would un¬
doubtedly retaliate by nuing ub on the Hurry and Seaman patent.
This point was considered by us and we thought that such a
counter-suit would not be serious.
Undoubtedly, if we ever expect to do any-’
thing with our main patent we must take some steps to enforce
it, because if we acquiosoe too long in the various infringe¬
ments we oould never get a court to grant an injunction. I
therefore suggested to Mr. Edison that we should bring suit
against some concern outside , of the combination, and he thought
that would be all right. Can you name any independent com-
WHM-- 2— Feb . 6 , 1907
pany that uses the long kilns, against whom
brought? Of course the weaker the concern i
you know of such a concern, let me know and
a new bill.
FDD/to
Very truly your
suit might bo
s, the te tter. If
I will prepare
TKe Edison Portland Cement (g.
Telegraph, Freight and Passenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J.
P. O. Address, STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
Eeb. 7, 1907.
Mr. prank L. Iftrer,
Edison Laboratory,
Orange, N. J.
Dear Sirs
Replying to yours. 6th relative to advisability of
. . .
bringing suit on the o-aal patents, beg to Btate if it had not
been for ray sickness I should have seen you before this relative
to the matter.
I have had two interviews with representatives of the
Hofcth American Portland Cement Col , one of whioh was Mr, Duncan,
Attorney for the Atlas Company, relative to these patents,
particulars of which I will give you the first time I come to
Orange, which probably will be on Saturday. In the meantime,
do not take any action in suit until I have discussed the
matter further with you.
Yours very truly,
"Vv2rv\^,
WSM-BBS
i»Q'Cdt4<»u
TRe Edison Portland Cement Co.
' Telegraph, Freight and Paatenger Station, NEW VILLAGE, N. J.
p. o. address. STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
BALES OFFICES :
YORK,*NA/Vm" SLJamil DulldfnE
MH»H, Natlorm|CBankUBuIldlt
December 19, 1^08.
^ , UBCtMDBr j.v, iauo
Dear Mr. Edison: - - ' .
I am attaching herewith a> letter in
accordance with the resolution offered by the Board of
Directors. 1 think before you pass on this matter, it would
be well to take it up with Mr. Dyer, and if necessary, Mr.
McCarter, so to be sure that you are thoroughly protected,
as under the ciroumstances, considering all that you have
done for the Company, I do not think it would be fair for
the other Directors to ask you to put yourBelf in a position
where there might be any question arising as to what the
Company owes you on notes and open account-.
Yours very truly,
-A
•RE^EiVEDh
DEC 22 1908 :
FRANK L, DYER,
£09
MEMORANDUM
Mr. Edison: u,Xt *£_
^J, - ,~tdi.
Regarding^ the attached :
told you, Messrs. McCdr^ef'' icTnglfs]
notes are given they will stand on
now held hy the hanks,
that the new notes he
from Mr. Mallory',
that if the nt
same footing as the notes
et Mt. Mallory's point, X suggest
for three yearB, with the option to the
company to take them up in whole or in part at the end of the
first, second or third year from their date.
Mr. Thomas M. Thompson raises the point that if anything
should happen to you the company might, not Jave^suffic lent time to
take care of the notes which you now hol£T Whether you wish to do
anything in this direction is, of courses, for you to say.
sxd/iw
F. L. D.
■Edison Portland Cement Co.,
Stewartsville, II. J.
My dear Mr. Mallory:
Your favor of Decenfoer 19th to Mr. Edison
has been referred to me relating to the resolution of the Direc¬
tors of the Portland Cement X3o. on the subject of making improve¬
ments to cost approximately $112,000.00, the money to be advanced>
by Mr. Edison and secured by the company's notes, "to run for one
year, with the privilege to the company to renew same in whole or
in part twice thereafter for a similar period".
Mr. Edison seemed to have some doubt whether, if this were
done and anything should happen to the company, the new noteB
would have the same standing as the conqoany's .notes now held as
collateral by the banks. X have submitted this latter question
to'Messrs. McCarter & English, who confirm my own opinion, that
all the notes would stand on the same footing. To make the new -
notes for one year, with the privilege of renewing them in whole
or in part for two. further periods of a year each could be fully
covered by contract .with Mr. Edison, but in case of his death
the arrangement would not have to be carried out by his estate.- '
TOiat objection would there be to having the noteB run for thre.e
. .years, giving the company the option to take thorn up in whole or
JAN;.8;tn09
(a)
in part at the end of the first, .second or third yea? after their
date? This it seems to me would fully so, cure the end you have
in mind .
Regarding the suggestion made hy the Directors., that the same
arrangement should he adopted in reference to the p they notes ttOw
held hy Mr. Edison, that is a matter for adjustment hy dim. hut
if you wish me to I will take up the specific question with him
and ascertain his viewB.
Yours very truly,
itd/iww
General Counsel.
^^fwmo&CX £dw<m»
TKe Edison Portland Cement Co.
Tclagraph. Fr.ijht and Pai.tnger Station, NEW VILLAGE. N.J.
p. o. address. STEWARTSVILLE, N. J.
pa.',’ &«i»TJ!y®aultd"n*
", Poit Offlea 8qu.ro side
National Bank Bulldlns
Mr. Harry F. Hiller, Treas.,
Edison Laboratory,
Orange, N.J.
D ear Sir:- \s ^
1 beg to herewith Jfcind you a letter from Mr. Ityer
dated January 25th in which he states that Mr. Edison is willing
to accept notes of our Company for the advances already made as
well as the balance of the $112,000 to be advanced to cover im¬
provements and also the notes which he now holds, and-I beg here¬
with to hand you a lead pencil memorandum giving!, the dates and
amounts of notes held by Mr. Edison which are not discounted at
your banks. These notes I have left out. Will you check over
the list and advise me if it agreeB with your own and if so, re¬
turn it to me, and if agreeable to Mr. Edison, I will arrange to
have all interest figured Ito February 1st, 1909 and then have
new notes drawn for three years, bearing interest at &%, interest
payable annually.
Also ask please ask Mr. Edison or Mr. Dye* whether
we had better have on the face of the notes the statement as to
the right of the Company to pay / off. the notes, or a separate ,
agreement. It is my thought that it would be better to have a '
separate agreement entered into by the Company and Mr. Edison
by. which .the. Company agrees that if it is in the position to
H.E.M?
pay off the notes in whole or part any time within the period of
three years, and is requested to do so by Ur. E dison, that
they agree that they will do it. If we should have Bay two or
three good years in which the Company would make a lot of money,
in view of the way in which Mr, Edison has backed us up it would
only be fair, i.if. he wished it, that he should have a part of the
earnings and not be compelled to wait until the expiration of
the three years, and I think the should be quite as
much on his part as on the part of the Company.
1 would suggest, therefore, that you take the
matter up with Mr. Edison immediately and learn hiB wishes and
then ask Mr. Dyer to put it in the form of an agreement, if it
is better in that way, and then I will arrange to get out the
notes and have them all fixed up before Mr. Edison leaves for
the South.
Yours very truly,
‘Vfirywi
sues,
— v
NKW YORK, N. Y . . Jan, . 6, . 19.1.0.. .
Prank X. Dyer, Esq.,
Pres. National Phonograph Co.,
Orange, N. J.
My dear Hr. Dyc.r:-
X have your favor of January 5 and am pleased to knew
that you would like to go over complainant's prima facie case in the suit
of Edison v. Allis-Chalmers Co., et al, brought for" infringement of Mr.
Edison's method and apparatus patents covering the giant rolls. I am,
therefore, sending to you, by express, a copy cf the testimony and a copy
of the drawing illustrating the defendants' plant at Pekin. I do not
think that you will find it neceseary to have any of the other exhibits.
The following statement in regard to the testimony will assist you.
Messrs. Williams and Hartigan (pp. 2, 56) made the drawings and
have described the Pekin plant fully as it was before suit v/as brought.
Mr. Herter (p. 105) has described the Pekin plant in operation after
suit brought. Mr. Klotz (p. 143), whose testimony I took as part of our
prima facie case only because he happened to be here, has testified to
t-’e advantages of the g.lant rolls over gyratory crushers. Mr. Mason
(p. 150 and p. 249) has testified as to the construction and method of
operation of giant rolls; showing that the giant rolls of defendants'
Pekin plant must operate like the New Village rolls. Mr. Bentley (p.
179) has testified as an expert, ex tila.in.ing the inventions of the patents
in suit and that defendants* Pekin giant rolls embody those inventions.
Stipulations (pp, 57 and 217a) have been made completing the .-or oof
connecting the different companies, namely, the Allis-Chalmers’ Company,
The Casparis Stone Company and the Empire Limestone Company, with the
Pekin plant and with the infringement charged in the bill and showing
(p. 221) that on October 10, 1907, yuu warned the Allis-Chalmers Company
against infringement of the patents aied on. Kr. Stephens, whom I could
not keep within reasonable limits, has testified (p. 224) fully to the
effect that representatives of the Ca3paris Stone Companv and the Allis-
Chalmers Company inspected the giant rolls at New Village and at Sibley,
Mich., obtaining detailed information in regard thereto and explaining
how it was that defendants were able to make such&Chineae cepy of the
Edison giant rolls.
Mr. Edison, Kr • Bentley, Mr. Mason and T have gone pretty fully
into the principles and theories of the rolls, ' principally for use in re¬
buttal, if necessary. So far Mr. Mason and If r. Bentley have not gone
into any extended discussion of the principles cf the rolls, stating
only enough to make out a clear prima facie case. Kr. Edison is the one
■who has a clear, comprehensive grasp of the principles of the rolls
and the ability, by apt and striking illustrations to explain those
principles. Mr. Edison has stated that he would be willing to testify
in rebuttal should I request him so to do, and I have- the question cf Mr.
Eulscn's testifying under consideration and, therefore, state the fact
in order to obtain your views. Of course, this question must at all
events depend largely upon the case made by the defendants, who, T expect.
tM ^ Sh” id** ^akl^R1ef their testimony thie month, probably in Chicago
P. I.
Jan. 6/10,
The defendants have set up in their answer 100 or more United
States and English patents. T have gone over t,he3e carefully as far as
they appeared to have any relevancy whatever, hut have found nothing
that can he regarded as an anticipati!gn,,a/j_Hr. Bentley is of the sams
opinion, although his examination haS^wben very superficial. Prior
patents show friction clutches, slipping connections, rolls with knobs,
rolls with lower and with higher knobs, even rolls with low knobs and
two rows of high knobs on opposite sides, rolls with plates of different
kinds, all sorts of rolls, but none of the patents of the prior art show
massive rolla breaking rock by kinetic energy, or, in other words, rock
fed periodically to massive rolls. Hr. Edison seems to have been the
first to run massive rolls up to a high speed, then to deliver blows
from the rolls to break the rock and then to crush the rock, performing
the breaking and crushing by kinetic energy, and then to run the rolls up
to speed again and repeat the operation.
I do not know what, therefore, the defendants rely upon.
Some questions put by Hr. Wilkinson upon cross-examination of Hr.
Hason (p. 169) and of Mr. Stephens (p. 240 et seq. ) would indicate that
Hr. Wilkinson may have in mind an attempt to prove anticipation or two
years prior use by the rolls at Bens en Hines or at Edison, N. J., al¬
though no such defense is set up in the answer, but might be later
through amendment.
The foregoing letter, I think, will acquaint you with the
principal features of the suit so far as it is at present developed.
When you have considered the testimony, will you kindly return the
testimony and the drawing to me, as Hr. .Bentley and probably Hr. .Mason
will need it in the further xjrogress of the case, although there i3 no
present need for the same.
Very truly yours,
£oui6 Hicks, Sbq.,
71 iloooau St. ,
■Uow York City.
donr Mr. Hi aka: .
I hdvb lookod ovor tho tostiraony in tho suit '
against tho Allis-Chalmora Company on tho Giant Rolls patent
and think that ovoryfching is most affectively covered- It :
otrikop mo that tho casp ip a peculiarly aggravating ono and,
I think it ought to eonnond itool-f to tho Court- ’ . , .
Shore is only ono suggestion that I oon rnelro, Phioh
possibly you have alroady in raind. , . THion I first considorod
tho Giant Roll patient I novor" could undorotand why it ms’ .
that tho passage of tho enormous.-, amount of rock botwoan tho
rolls did not • seriously strain tho hearings thorof or , hut
upon montioning ray doubts to Mr: Edison ho told rao that tho
tromondous . inortia of tlio , rolls provontod thorn from aaparat-.
ing undor tho momc^Briy, Btrossoo nhidh uero imposod Upon tho •
rolls by tho rooks passing botwoon thorn. In. othor words
tho rolls aro so masoivo that thoy could not posoiblo sopa¬
rat o-in tho fr&otion of a aooond "that is ooouplod in tho
pascago of tho rook botwoon thorn. Mr. Edison lias said to
mo that if tho bodringo woro disponsod with ontiroly tho -
would not do par to lot would retain their position
mm/m,
Iduio'&Loks. (2) l/lo/lO.
in epa.oo. Of'oouxso, if tho rollo. r/oro turning at a much
slower apeod and wore Dimply escorting a crushing affect on
tho masses of roolt, not only would tho ' powor havo to bo
enormously multiplied, but you will DOo that tho bearings
thonaolvos .would havo to' bo tromondouoly largo and groat
difficulty would bo cncountorod in pronorly. lubrioating thorn.
By using onormouo maoooD of iron in tho rolls- and operating
thorn at high spood, do as to break tho rook by. IcLnotic onorgy,
wd aro ablo to uao a vary small driving powor and tho boar-
ingo for tho rolls aro not unduly largo end tho lubrioation
of tho booringo is vory oaoily offootod. I h^y^ novor .
mentioned tho matter to Mr. Edison, but" I also strongly sus¬
pect that in tho operation .of those rolls thoro is a oortdin
gyrosoopio action and by roason- of" that phonomonon tho rolls’
•bond to hold thomsolvos in thoir position rogardloas of tho
boarings in. which thoy aro mountod. In othor words , by
reason of tho, gyroscopic of foot an additional steadying ’
powor is takon advantago of in tho cruohing of tho rooks.
I ora^ dictating thoso notes vory hurriedly on tho
phonograph, but I think you will got on idoa of what I am
driving at, and they may oomo in handy whon you are talcing
yoxir robuttal testimony as .additional grounds for sustaining
tho patent. - •
. lours very truly, •.
H.B/IWV/
^omool.
4c>» louio hicks, m:
Counsellor AT Law and proctor or admiralty
Frank L. Dyer, Esq.,
Pre3. National Phonograph Co.,
Orange, N. J.
My dear Mr. Dye r : -
I enclose a copy of a letter vdiich I have sent hy same
mail to Mr. Mason in regard to the suit against the Allis-Chalraers Co.
et al on the Edison giant, rails patents. The points of the letter are
two; first, that I have obtained an order limiting defendants' time to
take testimony to Kay 1, 1910 and cur time for rebuttal proofs to July 1,
1910; and second, that I believe that defendants will be forced to en¬
deavor to establish a defence of more than two years prior public use
or anticipation by a use in this country of the roll3 by some third per¬
son prior to Mr. Edison's earliest date of invention. T do not believe
that there will be any ground for establishing such defences, but from
letters which I have received from defendants' coiuisel saying that he is
engaged in certain investigations with regard to evidence looking in
the direction indicated, X believe the attempt will be made. Therefore,
I am talcing every precaution to gather such evidence as may be available
to meet such, defences if raised. I have asked Mr. Mason to take the
matter up with Mr. Edison and possibly you may at some time think it
advisable to do the same, or you may, yourself, have information or be in
a position to refer me to same person who has information which will
assist me.
With my best regards, I am,
Yours very truly.
ORA RTUIRDT.
Mar. 26, 1910.
[ENCLOSURE]
ONC ,A,,C..U.,.,
. Mar. 26, . 1910.
William H. Mason, Esq.,
o/o Edison Crushing Rolls Co.,
Stewartsville, N. J.
My dear Mr. Mason: -
Edison vs. Allis-Ohalaere Co., et al.
I have obtained an order limiting defendants' time to take
proofs to May 1, and limiting our time to take testimony in rebuttal
to July 1. This arrangement would close the proofs before the summer and
enable us to bring the cause on for final hearing in the fall. So far
Mr. Wilkinson has made no move toward putting in his proofs and, there¬
fore, X have secured the order limiting his time.
I have been going over the case within the last few days and
there are one or two matters of which I wish to write to you.
As appears from my letter of December 11 to Mr. Mallory,
and Mr. Williams' letter of December 18 to me, I wrote to the Dunbar
Stone Company of Detroit warning them against infringement of the Edison
giant rolls patents and Mr. Williams stated that a copy of my letter to
Mr. Mallory suggesting that the Sibley Quarry Company obtain, if possible,
further information, was forwarded to the Sibley Company. Has any fur¬
ther information been obtained with regard to the construotion of in¬
fringing rolls hy the Dunbar Stone Company?
Referring to my letter of January 4, 1910 to Mr. Williams, to
your letter of January 17 to me enolosing a copy of Mr. Herter's report
of March 15, 1907, and to your letter of Maroh 4 to me, all relating to
the rolls de8igned by Mr. Phelps and built for the Clinton Point Stone
Company of Clinton Point, N. Y., and later removed to Benson MineB
where they now are in their changed condition, I understand you to say
that your information in regard to those rolls is as follows j-
(1) The rolls were designed and built in 1896. If this is so,
we have nothing to fear in regard to a defence based upon a public use
Of those rolls more than two years prior to the time, July 16, 1897, when
Mr. Edison filed his application for the giant rolls patents. However, ,
if it should appear, although I do not understand that it was the faot,
that the Benson Mines rolls, when originally put up at Clinton Point,
operated by kinetic energy and were otherwise similar to the Edison giant
rolls, in- such case it would be necessary for. Mr. Edisoi to prove that
his date of invention was not only prior to his filing date, July 16,
1897, but also prior to the designing and construotion of the Benson
Mines rolls in 1896. Of ocurse, Mr. Phelps was formerly with Mr.
Edison and I have no doubt that in 1896 what he did was the result of
what he learned from Mr. Edison previously to that date.
(2) In your letter to me of Maroh 4, 1910, you say that Mr.
Herter has found the drawinga for the original friotion put on the giant
rolls at Edison, N. J. and that he has also found the drawings for a
friotion exaotly alike in design whioh was put on the intermediate
rolls whioh were 4 ft. x 4 ft. and eet directly under
the giants. The drawings for the friction of the giant rolls
you say were made April 14, 1894 and the drawings of the friction
[ENCLOSURE]
m
Mar. 26/10.
for the intermediate rolls were made April 16, 1894. You add that it
would seem from the fact that Mr. Edisonhad the frlotion designed at
exactly the same time for the giant rolls and for the intermediate
rolls, that the idea Of these frictions was purely to save the belt.
Prom this I understand that you think that when the drawings were made in
April, 1894, the idea of breaking rook by kinetic energy, consisting in
first running massive rolls having irregular surfaces up to high speed,
then delivering rook to the rolls, thereby breaking the rook by kinetic
energy, and slowing down the speed of the rolls, then running the rolls
up to speed again and feeding more rook to the rolls so that the rook is
fed at intervals to the rolls in the manner stated, had not then been
fully developed, if, indeed, it had at that time ocourred to Mr. Edison.
It may be that later on in the oase we shall have to inform ourselves
accurately in regard to all these points.
Ky impression is, subject to correction, that Mr. Edison prob¬
ably evolved the idea of the giant rolls for breaking rook by kinetic
energy in the manner stated at an early date, hit that muoh experimental
work was necessary before the invention could be tested and put into
practical operation. Mow, the legal aspect of the situation is with
regard to a possible defence that the Edison rolls were in public use
at Edison, N. J. or elsewhere more than two years before Mr. Edison filed
his patent application on July 16, 1897, that whatever Mr. Edison did
in an experimental way to test and to develop his invention is not to be
regarded as a public use, the two years beginning and running only after
the real experiments had ceased with the completion of the Invention. In
other words, in order to establish a defence of more than two years prior
publio use, the defendants would have to show that. Mr. Edison had com¬
pleted his invention and had made all neoessary experiments therewith
more than two years before July 16, 1897, and that thereafter and still
more than two yearsbefore July 1 6, 1897, Mr. Edison had publicly used the
invention, that is to say, had used the invention in the presence of
and with the knowledge Of some other person.
(3) I understand from your letter of Maroh 4, 1910, that Mr.
Phelps told Mr. Herter that he, Mr. Phelps, put a friotion pulley on each
roll and also a friotion pulley on the line shaft driving the rollB.
You do not give the date when the friotion pulleys were put on by Mr.
Phelps, but I assume that it was in 1896 when the rolls were designed
and built. You Bay further that Mr. Herter gathered from Mr. Phelps
that his frictionB were put on the rolls simply beoause he was keeping
the general scheme of the original giant rolls at Edison. Erom this
information it would appear that your idea is that the rolls designed
and .built by Mr. Phelps in 1896 were not designed or built to break rook
by kinetic energy according to Mr. Edison' sunthod. Of course, if in ,
1896 Mr. Phelps did nothing more than to use the friction, pulleys or J
"frictions", as you call them, shown .in' the drawings of April, 1894,
and designed by Mr. Edison prior to April, 1894, in that oase the draw¬
ings of 1894 being in existence, as you say, the proof of Mr. Edison's
■ priority over Mr. Phelps would be clear.
(4) Will you kindly have made and sent to me a ocpy of the
drawings of April, 1894, showing the frictions designed for the giant and
intermediate rolls?
[ENCLOSURE]
*
m
W.B.K. -3- Bar. 26/10.
I do not think that the defendants can succeed upon the United
States and English patents set up in the answer aB anticipations of the
Edison Riant roll8. Therefore, although it ia well known that it is a
moot difficult matter to establish in a patent suit a defenoe that the
invention was in puhlio uoa more than two years before the application
for the patent was filed, or a defonoe that some third person knew and
used the invention before the patentee invented it, still it seems to
me that the defendants' counsel will make a strenuous effort to build up
suoh defences for want of any other defences upon which they can rely.
Therefore, I attach great importance to our efforts at the present time
to gather such evidence as will enable us to meet and overthrow such de¬
fences if raised by the proofs to be introduced by defendants, Bence I
send two copies of this letter to you and I am also sending one copy of
it to Mr. Dyer, in the hope that you will not only gather such informa¬
tion as you een independently of t4r. Edison, but also that you will,
when you hove a proper opportunity, give r,o Mr. Edison one copy of this
letter and obtain from him suoh information as he undoubtedly can Rive
ue.
Kr. Mallory may very likely have some knowledge of those
matters, and for this reason and because he is most interested in the
suit end desirous to assist and be kept informed of its progress, I
would request that you kindly call Mr. Mallory's attention to this
letter.
With my best regards to you nil, I am,
Yours very truly,
Mr. Wilkinson, defendants' counsel, on February 5, wrete to me
saying that his client "has been Investigating some matters of defonoe,
and hove ascertained that in a very few days it will be definitely known
whether the matters whioh we are investigating will form part of our
proofs", and on February 21 Mr. Wilkinson said, "I nm now having a re-
preoentntive in the East investigate oertain matters and te ascertain
what witnesses we can rely upon to establish the proposed matters of
defence. I expect that the representative referred to will return to
Chicago in a few doys, and I will then at once fix a date for proceeding
with defendants' testimony." On cross-examination of our witnesses you
will remember that Mr. Wilkinson referred to Mr. Phelps and the rolls at
Benson Mines,'' implying that a draftsman, formerly employed by Kr. Edison,
claimed to have invented the rolls.
Can you find out the date when the rolls were removed from
Clinton Point to Benson Mines?
March 27, 1010.
Louis Hicks, Esq.,
71 Ilacsau at. ,
How York City.
hoar- Mr.- Hi oka:
Yours oi’ tho 26th inst. has boon received in
roferoncc to tho suit oguinst tho Allis-Chalmors Co. Personally '
I can not familiar with tho datos of :sr. Edison's work on tho
giant rolls because tho original application was filed before I
oamc to How York. Shore can bo no doubt, however, but that Mr.
Edison's work, at least up to tho end of tho year 1897,. was purely
experimental. I viaitod- tho plant at Edison in tho Spring of
1890 and at that time it was bolioved that tho experimental period
had passod, and fir. Edison coraraencod negotiations with capitalists
in London to exploit his inventions on oro-milling maohinory for
the rest of tho world. I havo always understood, as a matter of
gonoral gossip, that a formor draughtsman of Mr. Edison's loft him
in tho oarly days and startod to build a sot of giant rolls somo-
whero olso, claiming that ho was tho inventor, but I understood
from Hr. Edison that tho so rolls woro an abBoluto failure.
If I can bo of any service to you in connootion with
this particular dofonso, do not hositato to call upon me.
At all timos I shall of courso bo most interested to
hoar of tho progress of tho case. ^ours v y
b/h y
. /pui ^ 1
July 13, 1910
I had a talk with Harry 1. Dunoon on Monday, in regard
to the suit on the long kiln patent. He said that in the
original test oase the defendant had acknowledged the validity
of the patent ,and had taken out a lioense, hut that there is
one other suit pending in which nothing has been done beyond the
filing of the replication, for the reason that Mr. Dunoan thinks
that it would be very muoh more advisable and safe to go before
the oourt on the two patents, that is, the apparatus and prooess
both, than to try out the oase on the apparatus patent alone.
He said that he talked this matter over with you about a
year ago and thought that you agreed with him, and he thinks that
we should take our appeal to the Board of Examiners in Chief in
the prooess application right away, and Wit that we should be
suooessful in getting some good claims, and that we should then
take out the patent and bring suit based upon both patents against
some oonoern, so that the prooess olaims would be before the
oourt together with the apparatus olaims.
He oonsiders the ohanoes before the Board very good
indeed, and is willing to oo -operate in every way upon the
appeal. He suggested that I get up the argument, and that we
should then go over it together, which seems like a good suggest¬
ion.
dh/mjd
I saw Mr. Dunoan yesterday in regard to the suit on the
Edison kiln patent, and find that he is perfectly willing to
go ahead with the. taking of proofs in this suit, hut would
like to have a letter from you asking him to take such step,
on aooount of the misunderstanding whioh seems to have arisen.
His idea of a prima faoie oase is to put on the stand
the former superintendent of the defendant, who is expert in
burning oement, hut is not a patent expert, and examine him as
to the apparatus used hy the defendant, and how it was used,
and what results were obtained. He does not think it would
he advisable to put a patent expert on for the prima faoie
oase, as the oross -examination would then be direoted to all
sorts of matters oonneoted with the patent and its file wrapper
which he thinks can just,, as well be avoided at this Btage of
the case. He thinks.it would probably be well to have a
patent expert for the rebuttal.
fhe best patent expert on oement is believed to
be Prof. Carpenter of Cornell, and he thought it would be ad¬
visable to ^Btain Prof. Carpenter if we get him.
- it seeips to me that if we are 'to retain this ex¬
pert , it ..should. ‘be done before we begin taking our proofs,
because the other side may retain him if we wait, but Mr.
Dunoan says that Prof. Carpenter iB at present in California,
so. that it might be diffioult to arrange the matter at this
time. What would you like to do in this regard?
FLD 2
The olaims whioh’Mr. Duncan thinks are infringed
are 1, 2, 5, 8, 17 and 18, and possibly 6, 7 and 11.
As to claim 6,. we do not see how we oan prove that in
the defendant's apparatus the length of the kiln beyond the
combustion zone is sufficient to permit substantially all
the oarbon dioxide to be evolved from the oement material. The
substanoe of this claim seems to be a prooesB. While the de¬
fendant ' s . kiln might be long enough to permit this, it seems
to me that we should be required to prove that the oarbon di¬
oxide was evolved as set forth in the olaim. This we have no
way of doing.
As to claim 7, we do not know at present whether there
is a damper in the. staok or flue.
I would be glad to have your viev/s in full as to the
matters referred to herein. j
_ s
dh/mji
Legal Department Records
Cement - Interference Proceeding
Shiner v. Edison (No. 27,406)
This folder contains material pertaining to a Patent Office proceeding
involving an application filed by Edison on January 27, 1906, for a patent on
a rotary kiln that he had invented in 1 899 and a competing application by
William C. Shiner. The one selected item is Edison's brief on appeal to the
commissioner of patents, who ruled in favor of Edison in June 1909.
Bo*. [7^
IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
WILLIAM C. SHINER
THOMAS A. EDISON.
ON APPEAL TO THE COMMISSIONER IN PERSON.
BRIEF FOR EDISON.
KRANK L. DYER,
, Attorney for Appellant.
HERBERT H.' DYKE,
DYER SMITH,
Suited states fatcut (Office.
Interference No. 27,400.
Rotary Kilns. On Ap¬
peal to the Comaijs-
sioner in Person.
BRIEF FOR EDISON.
This appeal is taken b.y Edison, the senior party,
from the decision of the Hoard of Examincrs-in-
Chief in favor of Hie junior party, Shiner. The de¬
cision was rendered by a divided Hoard, Examiners-
in-Ohicf Stewart and Campbell, holding- — though
they were not in agreement in their reasoning —
that priority should be awarded to Shiner, and
Examiner-in-Chief Mncaulcy holding that Edison
is entitled to the award of priority. Eaeli of the
tlie three members of the Hoard of Examincrs-in-
Chief wrote a separate opinion.
Tlie senior party, Edison, filed his application on
January 27, 1 !)()(;. Shiner did not file until nine
months later, his filing date being October 26tli of
the same year. Tlie interference is between Edi¬
son’s application and a patent granted to Shiner on
February 19, 1907, upon his application of October
20th, 1900.
The Invention and Interference Issue.
The invention in issue is an improvement in
cement burning kilns devised for tlie purposo of re-
\ Villi am C. Shiner,
Thomas A. Edison.
2
turning to the kiln the finely divided cement form¬
ing material carried into the stnek by the rapid
flow of tlie discharged gases from the kiln. A cham¬
ber is provided at the base of the stack so ns to
increase the diameter of the stack in that neighbor¬
hood, thereby decreasing the speed of the discharged
gases and allowing the material carried by the
gases to fall upon the bottom of the chamber, where
it collects in a sort of hopper provided for the pur¬
pose, and is returned by means of a suitable return¬
ing device to the kiln to be burned into cement
clinker. The returning means shown by each of
the Applicants consists of a rotary conveyor.
The interference issue is as follows:
“1. In a rotary kiln, a stack provided with
a base having a chamber adapted to receive
and to retain matter dropped from the stack,
a kiln-tube connected with the base and ter¬
minating with its interior portion slightly be¬
low tlie chamber thereof, and movable means
for positively conducting tlie descending mat¬
ter from the stack-flue directly into said kiln.”
The Burden of Proof on Shiner; His Patent In¬
advertently Granted.
Tlie patent to Shiner, it will be noted, was grant¬
ed while Edison’s application was pending in the
Patent Office. On the question of the burden of
proof, tlie Examiner of Interferences held as fol¬
lows :
“Shiner has a patent, which was issued to
him on tlie 19th of February, 1907, but this
patent having been inadvertently issued, does
not change tlie relation of the parties, and the
burden is therefore upon Shiner of proving
priority by preponderance of evidence.”
Examiner-in-Cliief Campbell stated in liis opin¬
ion (pages 9 and 10), that it was error to bold that
8
tlie patent was inadvertently granted to Shiner,
basing this view upon the alleged ground that Edi¬
son did not claim the invention of tlie issue until
after the granting of Shiner's patent, and that Edi¬
son was not claiming this invention at tlie time that
Shiner’s patent was granted. We had thought that
this ghost had long ago been laid, and that tlie rule
was well established that an applicant lias tlie bene¬
fit of the date of filing an application disclosing
his invention for any claim which may properly be
made upon the disclosure thereof, and so are very
much surprised at such a finding, but, ns eacli of
the Examiners-iii-Chief who decided in favor of
Shiner appears to have erroneously assumed that
Shiner was the first, and Edison tlie last, to claim
tlie invention of tlie issue (though Mr. Campbell
was alone in holding that this supposed fact, if true,
would have any effect upon the rights of either of
the parties), we shall consider tlie applications of
tlie two parties with a view to showing tlie real
facts relative to the times of claiming the invention
by the parties.
It will be seen that the issue of the interference
comprises three elements; tlie stack with tlie cham¬
ber at its bottom ; tlie kiln-tubes connecting witli tlie
chamber; and means for returning material col¬
lected in the chamber to the kiln. There are some
minor limitations in tlie claim to which we shall
refer hereafter, but these are its principal elements.
Edison’s application, as originally filed, contained
three claims which were numbered respectively 3,
4 and (i, and which were drawn directly upon the
combination of elements now forming tlie issue.
For example, Edison’s original claim 4, read as
follows:
“4. Tlie combination with a rotary kiln, of
a settling chamber witli which the upper end
of tlie kiln connects and means for returning
to the kiln material deposited in said settling
chandler, substantially as set forth.”
and these claims to this combination of elements
remained in the application during the entire time
that Shiner’s application was pending and includ¬
ing the time of the issue of the patent.
Shiner’s application, at its filing, contained sev¬
eral claims to this same combination of elements,
claim 5, for example, rending as follows:
“5. In a rotary kiln, a stack having a flue
and a base provided with a chamber, a kiln
connected with the base and terminating in
the chamber thereof to permit dust or fine par¬
ticles from the kiln to pass directly into the
flue, and means arranged in the base of the
chamber for conducting the dust or fine par¬
ticles from the fine back into said kiln.”
Shiner’s claims wore rejected on November 13,
1800. They were then cancelled and two claims
were substituted, which, after further slight amend¬
ments, became the claims of the patent.
Of these, Claim 1 is the issue of this interference.
So far as is apparent, the only difference between
the issue and Claim d originally filed by Edison is
that the claim of the issue sets out that the bottom
of the kiln-tube is below the bottom of the chamber
and that the returning means returns the material
direct to the kiln. It is inconceivable that the Pri¬
mary Examiner having the two applications before
him, with their almost identical disclosure, so far
as they relate to the features in issue, and with the
claims of each directed to the same identical com¬
bination of elements, could have decided that the
parties wore not endeavoring to claim the same
invention, and could have issued the patent to
Shiner without taking steps to institute an inter¬
ference between him and Edison. The only way
in which we cau account for the issue of the patent
to Shiner, under the circumstances, is, that it was
issued inadvertently, and that the Primary Ex¬
aminer, when he passed Shiner’s ense to issue, did
not have in mind the disclosure and claims of the
application of Edison. It seems perfectly clear
that the only differences between the claims pre¬
sented in these cases are such differences ns arise
when npxtlicntions for identical inventions are be-
ing prosecuted by different parties, by reason of
the fact of universal experience that no two persons
will view the same subject matter in precisely the
same light. To hold that Edison did not claim the
invention of the issue from the .time of the filing
of his application, when he did in fact have claims
for the same combination of elements and for per¬
forming the same functions, is substantially to hold
that no interference will be declared between pend¬
ing applications, lint that every applicant, in order
to obtain an interference, must wait until his oppo¬
nent’s patent has been issued. It cannot be that
the amendments to Rule 98 were made for any
such purpose.
We submit, therefore, on this phase of tiie case,
that it is entirely immaterial who was the first to
claim the invention of the issue; but that, since it
has been shown tiiat each of the applicants was
claiming this invention from the filing of his appli¬
cation, and Edison was the first to file, he was the
.first to claim the invention; that the patent to
Shiner was inadvertently granted while Edison’s
application was pending and that the burden of
proof is on Shiner.
The Evidence.
What we have had to say so far has had reference
only to the disclosure of the two applications. Tiie
stipulated- statement of facts for both
signed l>y counsel on bebnlf of the respec¬
ts. The stipulation, after setting out ccr-
i which nppcnr from the file of Mr.
application, presents tlie cases of the
its, on pages 5 and 0, as follows:
Shiner’s Case.
The invention defined by the Interior-
issue, the first claim only, of the Shiner
it No. Sit, (123 of February tilth, 1907, was
lived- by the patentee, Shiner, on or about
lath, 1903. ITe made drawings of the in-
on about July 20th, 1901, and explained
mine to others about the 25th of July,
That he first embodied the invention,
isuc of this Interference, in a rotary kiln,
m Atlas Portland Cement Company’s
:s, at Northampton, Pennsylvania, July
1904, and the Kiln was started up, with
Invention therein about August 1st, 1904,
vorked successfully since said date. That
first.said day of August, 1904, thirty odd
y kilns have been modified to embody in
turc the invention, the issue of this inter-
ce, by the said Shiner and others under
uperintendcncc of installation as set out
is patent of February lfltli, 1907, No.
23, and all of which kilns embodying the
Shiner invention are now in successful
ition, at. different points at this time. The
of changing an ordinary rotary cement
Bring kiln to the Shiner patented inven-
;o effect a reduction of waste in the clink-
of the cement materials is between six
en dollars per kiln. That this can be nc-
lished by principally a brick-layer under
of the Shiner invention. The Shiner in-
3ii is designed to conserve waste in the
iction of Portland Cement.
1. The invention defined by the Interfer¬
ence issue was conceived by the. party Edison
on or about January 1, 1899, anil was at that
.time fully disclosed by him to others at Or¬
ange, and elsewhere within the United States,
but not to his knowledge at any time to Shiner
>■ and his associates.
2. In the month of January, 1S99, Edison
bad working drawings made of the invention
and in the month of July of that year lie caused
. a second set of working drawings thereof to
! bo made. In the month of Scpembcr, 1899, be
made a wooden model of the invention and
from time to time during the year 1899, and
particularly in the month of February of that
year, he made numerous sketches illustrating
the invention of the issue.
3. Edison began in October, 1899, and com¬
pleted in August, 1900, at the Edison Labora-
, tory, West Orange, N. J., a complete, full size
kiln involving therein the issue and immedi¬
ately after its completion this kiln was suc¬
cessfully tested and the apparatus was suc¬
cessfully operated and large amounts of
cement forming material . was burned to
clinker which was ground to form Portland
Cement.
This cement was not made use of commer¬
cially, however, but was merely tested to deter-
•mine that the clinker was properly burned.
These operations constituted a complete reduc¬
tion to practice of the kiln, in which was em¬
bodied the issue. The development of the Edi¬
son kiln involved expenses of over one hun¬
dred thousand dollars, and were witnessed by
lurge numbers of employees of the Edison
Laboratory and by numerous visitors, none of
whom, however, was Shiner and bis associates
to the best of the knowledge and belief of the
said Edison, nor is there any claim at this
time that. Shinei-i derived the ideas of bis in¬
vention patented February 19th, 1907. from
wlmt the said Edison might have been doing..
Both working independently, as inventors, in-
this field.
The following table shows the salient facts and
dates :
Shiner. Edison.
Conception . Jnly 15, 1903 Jnn. 1, 1899
Drawings . July 20, 19041 Jnn., 1899
1 July, 1899
Disclosure . July 25, 1904 Jan. 1, 1899
Reduction to prac¬
tice . July 29, 19041 Oct., 1899 to
JAug., 1900
Kilns since modi¬
fied to embody
the invention . 30 odd. No evidence.
Application filed _ Oct. 2G, 1906 Jan. 27, 1906
Patent granted . Fob. 19, 1907
It appears from this. table that Edison was the
first to conceive, the first to reduce to practice and
the first to file his application. It appears also
that, while Edison waited five years and five
months after reducing the invention to practice,
before filing his application for patent, there was
a similar delay on Shiner’s part of two years and
three months, and that Shiner, since reducing the
invention to practice, lias embodied it in thirty odd
kilns, though no dates appear for the making of
these kilns. As we have seen, the case is not af¬
fected by the inadvertent granting of the patent to
Shiner.
Edison Entitled to the Award Because the Prior
Inventor. Alleged Exceptions to the General
Rule that priority will be awarded to the first
inventor.
ance with II. S. Sec. 4904, Edison must succeed in
this interference, for lie is both the first to con¬
ceive the invention and the first to reduce it, to prac-
. ticc, and is therefore necessarily the prior inven¬
tor.
It lias been held in recent years that in cases
where the prior inventor is shown to have delib¬
erately suppressed Ids invention, and 1ms been
moved into activity by the knowledge that a rival
inventor lias entered the field, priority may bo
awarded in an interference in favor of the Inter
inventor, if lie was diligent aiid was the first to dis¬
close tlie invention to the public. We are unable
to understand how such decisions can bo correct in
so far as they authorise the grant of a patent to a
later inventor in the face of a prior completion of
Hie invention by another, for such a patent is an¬
ticipated and, if of any force whatever, is good only
against the opponent in the Patent Office, and
against no other person in the world. Such a
document is not a patent at all in any sense of the
term. And if patents are to he granted to another
than tlie first inventor, the statute should be
amended, not construed, to that end. We assume,
however, that tlie Commissioner will consider him¬
self bound by these decisions, and that we must
lie satisfied with merely voicing our protest. A
leading case on this subject is Mason vs. Hepburn,
C. D., 1S98, page 510, decided by the Court of Ap¬
peals of tlie District of Columbia. This line of
decisions is so well-known that we need not go
into the various cases in detail. Their scope and
the reasoning on which they are based is well ex¬
pressed by tlie following extract from the case of
Mason cs. Hepburn, supra:
“Considering, then, this paramount interest
of the public in its bearing upon tlie question
as presented here, we think it imperatively dc-
No argument is needed to show that if the award
of priority is to go to tlie prior inventor in accord¬
10
mantis Hint a subsequent inventor of a new
and useful manufacture or improvement who
lmd diligently pursued his labors to the pro¬
curement of the patent in good faith, and with¬
out any knowledge of the preceding discoveries
of another, shall, as against that other, who
lms deliberately concealed the knowledge of his
invention from the public, be regarded as the
real inventor and as such entitled to his re¬
ward.”
That the rule of these cases will not be extended
and is applicable only whore doubt exists concern¬
ing the reduction to practice by the first inventor,
appears from several subsequent decisions of the
same tribunal. This, we think, is the true doctrine
for if there is doubt ns to the reduction to practice
by the party earlier in the field, it may be argued
from subsequent delay that his prior work was no
more than an abandoned experiment. But where
no such doubt exists, we cannot see how any tri¬
bunal which has to pass on questions of priority
can avoid awarding priority of invention to the
prior inventor. For example, in the case of
McBerty vs. Cook, C. D., 1900, page 248, the same
court said:
“The facts are not suflicient to bring the
case within the rule announced iii Mason vs.
Hepburn, C. D., 1898, 510, and that rule will
not lie extended to any case not coming clearly
within it. The case falls rather within the
governing principle of the later case of Rsty
vs. Newton, C. T). , 1899, 284. As was said in
that case, delay is often a potent circumstance
in aid of a determination in a case not other¬
wise clear of the question whether an invention
had been successfully reduced to practice or
had resulted in nothing more than an aban¬
doned experiment. That case does not occur in
the case at bar, because, ns stated in the begin¬
ning, the evidence of actual and successful re¬
duction to practice is ample.”
See also Brown vs. Blood, 105 O. G., 976.
11
There is no doubt in this case about Edison’s
reduction to practice in 1900; for it is stipulated
(Edison’s case, supra) that “Edison * * * com¬
pleted in August, 1900, a complete, full size kiln
involving the issue, and immediately after its con¬
clusion this kiln was successfully tested” and
“these operations constituted a complete reduction
to practice of the kiln,' in which was embodied the
issue.” If we apply the rule of McBerty vs. Cook,
supra, that where the proof of reduction to practice
by the earlier inventor is unmistakable tbe award
of priority must necessarily go to the first inventor,
the undoubted proof of Edison’s successful reduc¬
tion to practice in lfioo absolutely disposes of the
interference in favor of Edison.
Edison Disclosed the Invention to the Public in 1900.
The Examiuers-in-Ohief devoted considerable dis¬
cussion to whether the doctrine of this line of cases
is dependent upon an equitable estoppel operating
against an earlier, negligent inventor and in favor
of his more diligent, though later rival, or whether
it is dependent upon forfeiture to the public. But,
inasmuch as they were agreed that a disclosure to
the public by the earlier inventor prior to such dis¬
closure by the later inventor would relieve the for¬
mer from either estoppel or forfeiture, as the case
may be, and this view appears to be fully borne
out by the decided cases, we may confine our in¬
quiry to determining whether or not such disclosure
was made.
The stipulation which is the evidence in the case,
after describing the completion and testing of Edi¬
son’s kiln, resulting in the reduction to practice of
the invention of the issue, continues :
“The development of the Edison kiln involved
expenses of over one hundred thousand dol¬
lars, and were witnessed by large numbers of
employees of the Edison Laboratory and by
numerous visitors, none of whom, however,
was Shiner and his associates.”
The majority of the Examincrs-in-Chicf held that
this language does not establish the fact that the
numerous visitor’s witnessed the successful testing
of the invention in issue. In tills we believe that
they arc in error. In tile stipulated state of facts,
the completion and testing of the kiln are first set
out and then the resulting reduction to practice.
This is followed by the statement that its “develop¬
ment” was witnessed by numerous visitors. To our
mind it is clear from the arrangement and obvious
relation of these several statements, that, by the
development of the kiln in this connection, is meant
the construction and successful testing which had
already been referred to in the stipulation. With
respect to inventions, development is a well under¬
stood term. All inventors proceed by steps. A
device is first made and tested to find if it is satis¬
factory, and if any defect develops, it is remedied
by the making of changes or a new device, and this
in turn is again tested to ascertain whether the
defects have been eliminated, and the development
of an invention is never complete until it has been
finally tested and found to operate successfully.
Its development ends then and not until then. We
do not say, of course, that this particular kiln was
developed in this precise way, but make this ex¬
planation merely to show what is the • common
understanding as to the development of an inven¬
tion. We think that, from the context and the way
in; which the various statements in the stipulated
testimony are arranged, and from the well under¬
stood meaning of the word “development” os ap¬
plied' to inventions, it is clear that the successful
18
operation of the device was carried on in public.
Examincr-in-Chief Mncauley’s observation on this
subject is as follows: (Decision of Examiners-in-
Chief, page 21) :
“It seems fair to assume that the develop¬
ment here referred to refers to the preceding
• statement of the completion of the invention,
including the successful operation thereof, and
in this view of the stipulated state of facts the
invention was at that time placed in the hands
of the public.”
Whether or not the language of the stipulated
evidence includes the witnessing of the successful
operation of the invention by visitors at the Edison
Laboratory, it is clear that the kiln was open to the
inspection of the public and that it was successfully
tested where the public had access to it. These
facts are very close to the facts in the case of
Zimmer v. Horton, recently decided by your Honor,
and reported in 137 O. G., 2210, and affirmed by
the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
in 137 O. G., 2223. In that case, the rule of Mason
v. Hepburn being invoked against Zimmer, the
Court of Appeals held that the fact that the device
was tested in a room to which the public had ac¬
cess, was a sufficient disclosure to the public to
negative any inteution of suppressing the invention.
The Court made use of the following language :
“As his (Zimmer’s) date of reduction to
practice is earlier than the earliest date
claimed by Horton, he is entitled to priority
unless it affirmatively appears that lie aban¬
doned the invention or secreted it and brought
it to light after Horton had given it to the
public. Neither of these conditions is shown
to have existed. Exhibit C was for a period
of several weeks tested in a room to which the
public had access. Exhibits D, E and F
which, it must be held, embody Zimmer’s in-
14
volition, wore also operated in such n manner
as to relievo Zimmer and ids assignee of the
charge of suppressing the invention.”
Tlie majority of the Exninincrs-in-Chief, liaving
decided that the evidence did not show that the
visitors to the Edison Laboratory witnessed a suc¬
cessful operation of the device embodying the in¬
vention, held that for that reason Edison did not
disclose the invention to the public in 1900. For
reasons already given, we submit that the evidence
docs show that the visitors, in witnessing the de¬
velopment of tlie kiln, witnessed its successful op¬
eration, but, if it be assumed that witnessing the
development of tlie kiln did not extend to the wit¬
nessing of its successful operation, and that the
visitors only saw tlie construction of tlie device and
tlie relation of its parts, we submit that this alone
was a sufficient' disclosure of tlie invention to tlie
public, particularly in the light of tlie fact that the
evidence shows that this- identical device was suc-
' cessfully tested and found to be a successful reduc¬
tion to practice of tlie invention in issue.
Tlie successful testing of a device of this nature
is at best a matter of deduction. Substantially all
that an eye witness of such a successful operation
of tlie device would be able to see, would be that
tlie shaft of the conveyor is rotated when the de¬
vice is put into operation, and all the elements
of the issue being hidden within the interior of the
kiln, they would not be open to inspection nor to
visual determination of whether they were perform¬
ing their functions or not, and even if it be assumed
that a window could, be provided for observation
from without, the dense cloud of smoke and dust at
an enormously high temperature in which these ele¬
ments would be enveloped would prevent observa¬
tion by such means. It is only from calculation
based upon the amount of material fed to the kiln
16
and tlie amount of cement clinker produced thereby,
and by comparison upon such data with kilns not
equipped with such a device, that any information
can be gained as to whether a saving is effected by
tlie use of the improvement of tlie issue, and it must
lie perfectly apparent that a member of tlie public
Who witnessed tlie construction of tlie device and
knew just how it was gotten up, would know a great
deal more about the invention than one who was
merely nil onlooker at n time when it was in suc¬
cessful operation.
In tlie decisions of Mason vs. Hepburn class, the
acts, which have been held to deprive a prior in¬
ventor of the award of priority by reason of what
lias been accomplished by a later inventor, are acts
apparently growing out of and indicating an intent
to suppress the invention, and to keep knowledge
of it from the public, and furthermore the decisions
hold that ho such intent will be presumed even
where there has been delay, but it must be proved
by the party advancing it. This is perfectly clear
from all the cases. For example, in the case of
Zimmer vs. Horton, just cited, tlie Court of Ap¬
peals says that the earlier inventor is entitled to
tlie award “unless it affirmatively appears that he
abandoned the invention or secreted it and brought
it to. light after Horton (tlie later inventor) had
given it to tlie public.”
We have made diligent search through tlie re¬
corded decisions and are unable anywhere to find
authority for tile holding of the Examiners-in-Chief
that a disclosure to tlie public, to be sufficient to
negative an intent to conceal or suppress the in¬
vention under tlie rule of Mason vs. Hepburn, must
necessarily consist in a viewing of a successful test
of a device embodying tlie invention by members of
tlie public. It cannot lie doubted that any sucli re¬
quirement is much too strict, for the particular
10
kind of evidence of intent to suppress or not to
suppress tiie invention iB decidedly of minor im¬
portance. In any reasonable view of the matter
any evidence which will show what wns the intent
| of tiie inventor will answer the purpose, so long as
: that intent appears with reasonable clearness from
17
vs. Trorllcht , 115 Fed. Rep., 144; 53 C. C. A., 348;
“Abandonment rests upon the intention of tiie in¬
ventor, and should be established by convincing
evidence;” Mast Poos Co. vs. Dempster Mill Co., 82
Fed. Hep., 331 ; 27 C. C. A., 191.
such evidence.
In view of tiie clear weight of authority, in sub-
In Wullcor on Patents, Fourth Edition (page
stantiaily requiring proof beyond a reasonable
!: 125) Mr. Walker states, citing Eastman vs. Eons-
doubt that Edison did not abandon or forfeit his
1 ton, 95 0. G., 2000, a D. C. App. Case, that a disclo-
completed invention in 1909, tiie Examiners-iu-
sure of an invention consists in making it known
Chief are entirely in tiie wrong. And if it be ad-
to another person well enougli to preserve its plan
mitted, ns tiie authorities clearly say it must be,
for the benefit of others if tiie inventor were to die
that Shiner, who asserts such abandonment or for-
without doing anything further. In whatever way
feiture by Edison, must fail in his contention or
tiie language of tiie stipulated statement of facts is
establish it. by convincing evidence, tiie only pos-
construed the disclosure referred to therein cer-
sible result of this interference will he an award to
ij tainly meets tiie requirements of this definition.
, Edison, for Shiner relies entirely on Edison’s dc-
Edison has therefore affirmatively proved that
lay — from which abandonment or forfeiture cannot
il lie had no intent to suppress or conceal the inven-
lie presumed, even if Edison presented no counter-
i tion. Hut he is not required to furnish such proof,
vailing proofs — and Edison lias negatived any such
for the cases hold that instead of the earlier in-
• intention by (1) completely and unmistakably re¬
|i venter being required to prove fully and formally
ducing the invention to practice; (2) admitting
that he did not abandon or forfeit his rights to
numerous visitors who witnessed tiie development'
the invention, tiie shoe is on the other foot, and he
of the invention; and (3) by filing his application
who asserts abandonment or forfeiture or suppres¬
without any knowledge of Shiner’s doings.
sion or concealment of the invention must furnish
! affirmative proof; liurson vs. Vogel, 131 O. G.,
The conclusion appears to us to be inevitable
942, and that abandonment is not to be presumed
that Edison bad no intention of suppressing the
from mere lapse of time; Rose vs. Clifford, etc., 135
invention and that he did disclose the invention to
O. G., 1301 ; “Under the statute tiie burden of prov¬
the public in 1900. Tiie effect of such disclosure
ing abandonment is on him who asserts it; Kellogg
is to entitle Edison to the award of priority. In
Co., vs. International Co., 158 Fed. Hep., 104; “Nor,
the words of the Examiner-in-Chief Campbell (De¬
indeed, 'should evidence of abandonment rest upon
cision of Exainiuers-in-Chief, p. 3) “If the facts re¬
ji doubtful or controverted inference;” Victor Talk-
cited in. the stipulation establish a disclosure to
; ing Machine Com gang vs. American Oraphoplione
the public of his (Edison’s) invention in 1900 or
i Co., 140 Fed. Hep., 800 ; “Clear evidence of an in¬
prior to the advent of Shiner upon the scene of in¬
tention to dedicate an improvement to the public
vention there is of course an. immediate end to the
is indispensible to establish an abandonment;” Ide
dispute between the parties in Edison’s favor.”
18
Shiner’s Work of 1903 and 1904.
Tho next stop in tho history of this invention
after wluit was accomplished by Edison in 1900
was Shiner’s work in 1903 and 1904. The evidence
shows flint he conceived the invention of the issue
in July of 1903, but did nothing further with it
until 1904, not even disclosing it to others, and in
July, 1904, lie disclosed it to others, had drawings
made, and on July 29th of that year, embodied it
in a kiln of the Atlas Portland Cement Company at
Northampton, Pennsylvania, “and the Kiln was
started up, with said invention therein about
August 1, 1904, and worked successfully since said
date” and that since August 1, 1904, thirty odd
kilns have hecn modified to contain the said inven¬
tion, all of which were in successful operation at
the time of making the stipulated statement of
facts which was filed in the Patent Office on No¬
vember 23, 1907.
It will he seen that in Edison’s ease a technical
public use is negatived by the evidence that the
cement produced in the use of the device of the
interference issue was not made use of except for
testing and was not put into the ordinary chan¬
nels of trade. Shiner’s evidence show's nothing as
to this and nothing about disclosure to the public.
It ajipears, therefore, that one of these two things
must be true of Shiner’s operations in connection
with his first kiln: either that he put his invention
into public use on August 1, 1904, by using it to
produce cement which passed into the ordinary
channels of trade, or if this he not the case, then
there is no evidence that the public was benefited
in any way by his invention, for it is certainly true
that the evidence does not show any facts concern¬
ing his disclosure of tho invention to the public at
that date, or that he took any steps in that direc¬
19
tion until lie filed his application for patent in Oc¬
tober of 1900, more than tw'o years later.
In our brief before the Examiners-in-Ohief, we
took the view that the evidence showed a public use
by Shiner because it did not negative tho passing of
the product of his August, 1904, kiln into the chan¬
nels of trade. We here and now recede from that
position, as w'e are convinced that while it may bo
likely that there was such a public use, the only
evidence is negative and not positive, and posi¬
tive evidence is necessary to establish such a fact.
. As to the “thirty odd” kilns in which Shiner
placed the invention in issue, all that the evidence
discloses is that these kilns 'were modified to em¬
body the invention sometime between August 1,
1904, and Nov. 23, 1907, the date on which the
stipulation was filed in the Office, rind that they
were operating successfully at the latter date.
Nothing is said about the dates on which these
kilns were so modified, and from anything which
appears, it may very well he that Shiner did not
embody liis invention in any of the thirty odd kilns
until after both parties had filed their applications,
or even after Shiner’s patent had been issued.
When the evidence of Shiner is sifted, therefore, it
appears that all he is shown to have accomplished
before the date of the filing of Edison’s applica¬
tion was the embodiment of the invention in a
single kiln at the Atlus Cement Works; that there
is no evidence whatever that the public had any in¬
formation as to the construction or mode of opera-
, tion of that kiln, and that if the public did, in any
way, reap any benefit from what was done at that
time, it was by reason of the cement made in the
kiln being put into the ordinary channels of trade.
Of this, as already stated, there is no positive evi¬
dence, but if the cement was actually sold to the
public, it would be of no value as a means of dis-
21
closing tlio invention, for it would have no peculiar
characteristics flowing from the fact that it was
made in a kiln embodying the invention in issue; it
would be only ordinary Portlaud cement, with
which the public was already perfectly familiar,
the same as made in any other kiln, and the public
could have no possible way of knowing that in
manufacturing the particular cement a slight sav¬
ing had been effected by returning to the kiln the
material which would otherwise have passed out
of the stack. Shiner’s attorney strenuously con¬
tends that Shiner did not put his invention into
public use, and if he is correct in this, it must he
that the public reaped no benefit from his work,
for there is nothing to show that the public, or any
member thereof, had any knowledge of what was
done by Shiner in 1»03 and 1904.
It will be noted that of the Exmniners-in-Chief
who rendered the decision appealed from, two are
agreed that Shiner did not disclose to the public
before Edison’s application was filed. Examiner-
in-Ghief Campbell’s views on this point are to be
found on page 14, and Examiner-in-Chief Macau¬
lay's views on page 22 of the decision appealed from,
the latter being as follows :
“Further, the record shows that Edison and
not Shiner, was the first to take steps to place
the invention before the public. It does not
appear from the stipulation that Shiner made
any efforts in this direction before his appli¬
cation for patent. A kiln embodying his in¬
vention was operated in August, 1904, and
since that time the invention has been put in
“thirty odd kilns,” according to the stipula¬
tion, but the date of any of the latter is not
given nor is it stated that either tile first kiln
or any of those subsequently modified to em¬
brace the invention was open to the public. It
appeal's, therefore, that Edison in filing his ap¬
plication was -prior to Shiner in liis efforts to
give the invention to the public. In this re¬
spect also his case differs from those in which
' the doctrine of forfeiture wus successfully in¬
voked.”
In addition to the fact that Shiner did not dis¬
close the invention to the public until nfter Edi¬
son’s filing date, there is no evidence of diligence on
his part. The cases uniformly hold that when a
later inventor is to be favored at the expense of an
earlier rival it must affirmatively appear, not only
that the earlier was negligent, but also that the
later inventor was in the exercise of all due dili¬
gence. Shiner has failed entirely to show diligence.
Before Edison’s filing date ho has shown nothing
more than a reduction to practice and lie allowed
two years and three months to elapse before he
filed his application. Upon this showing, how can
Shiner claim the reward which is granted to the
later inventor only upon condition that lie has been
diligent?
Edison’s Application ; Shiner Within Rule of Mason
vs. Hepburn.
In this state of affairs, Edison, in January, 190(5,
filed his application. This action was taken by him
entirely on his own initiative; he knew nothing of
Shiner’s work, and it had nothing to do with his
filing the application. We have shown that Edison
claimed substantially the invention of the issue
from the filing of his application, .thereby asserting
from that time his right as the inventor thereof.
The filing of Edison’s application, under these cir¬
cumstances, affords proof in addition to his throw¬
ing his invention open to the public in 1909 that
Edison had no intention of preventing the public,
from learning of liis invention, for the purpose of
applying for a patent is to disclose the invention to
the public and, for the disclosure, the public grants
22
back the exclusive right to its use for seventeen
years.
We confidently assert that, whereas Edison does
not come within the reasons lying back of the decis¬
ions of the Mason ex. Hepburn class, for he evinced
every desire to give the public the benefit of his in¬
vention, by throwing bis original kiln open to the
inspection of the public during its “development”
and be thereafter filed his application for a
patent on that invention, so that the patent
might issue and the invention be disclosed to
the public, and by these acts any presumption
which might arise from bis delay in applying for
a patent that lie did not intend to disclose his
invention to the public is effectually negatived;
Shiner, on the other hand, in view of the facts
which are in evidence in this ease comes
squarely within this doctrine, and if Edison had
stood on bis filing date as the date of his con¬
ception and constructive reduction to practice,
then under the rule of these cases, he would be en¬
titled to an award of priority in this proceeding,
entirely irrespective of any work which he did be¬
fore that time.
As we have seen, Shiner completed bis invention
in 1904, and reduced it to practice by putting it into
a. kiln which was started up on August 1, 1904, and
operated successfully since that time. (It is to be
noted that the stipulation says “since that time”
and not “ever since that time” or “continuously'
since that time,” and that operation for a single
day or even for a single hour would come within
the terms of the stipulated evidence.) This is all
that we need to consider, for ns we have pointed
out already, the thirty odd kilns referred to by
Shiner are not- shown to antedate Edison’s filing
date. As to Shiner’s first kiln, there is no evidence
to show that the invention of the issue embodied
23
therein was disclosed to the public. Shiner, there¬
fore, stands in the position of having reduced the
invention to practice, and without any disclosure to
the public, having waited over two years before fil¬
ing his application, while Edison — nud we are
speaking now only’ of his filing date — completed the
invention by liliug his application and thereby con¬
structively reducing it to practice in the time dur¬
ing which Shiner was inactive and without know¬
ing anything of Shiner’s activities, and almost a
year before Shiner filed his application. It follows,
therefore, that if Edison were to roly on his filing
date, entirely disregarding his earlier work — and
this earlier work can only strengthen and cannot
weaken the case made by the filing of the applica¬
tion, — on the facts which nre of evidence and under
the rule of Mason ■ vs. Hepburn, Edison is entitled to
have priority awarded to him.
Shiner, Being Himself Negligent, Not in Position to
Urge Edison’s Delay.
It is appellant’s contention, and has been
throughout the history of this case, that Shiner is
in no position to set up estoppel against Edison
based on the delay of the latter, because he himself
lias not been diligent and has delayed asserting
iiis rights. Exnmincr-in-Chicf Campbell held
(opinion pages 10 and 17) that
“The matter of the right to the patent is
not determinable upon the equities of the case,
nor is there any estoppel of Shiner against the
estoppel of Edison. But the right decision of
the case turns solely upon the inquiry whether
an estoppel arose against Edison.”
Examiucr-in-Chicf Mncnuley says on the same
topic (opinion page 23) :
“It is also to be observed tliat Shiner is also
open to the charge of negligence, since he de-
24
layed a period of more than two years after his
■ reduction to practice before taking any steps
to place his invention before the public. In
view of the latter’s remissness in the same re¬
spect, lie is not in a position to nrge equitable
estoppel against Edison by reason of the de-
. lay of tlie latter.”
In Kclloy Company vs. International Company,
loS Fed., 104, where conditions quite similar to
those ' in the present case were presented the
court held that the later applicant was not
in a position to assert equitable estoppel against
tlie earlier applicant, because he himself was
negligent. . As Edison was clearly and unmis¬
takably the first to complete tbc invention and
reduce it to practice, and Shiner, by reason
of his own negligence, cannot set up an equit¬
able estoppel against Edison, it follows that
the latter must prevail by reason of his earlier com¬
pletion of tlie invention.
lint tlie matter of comparing tlie delays of the
respective parties goes much further than this.
Any rule which is applied to one of tlie parties must
also in fairness be applied to tlie other. The case
does not turn solely on whether there is an estoppel
against Edison. If there is also an estoppel against
Shiner, who shall say that it shall not be enforced?
The rule, which when applied by the Examiners-in-
Cliief would rob Edison of tlie benefit of his work in
1900 if he had not disclosed the invention to the
public at - that time, when applied to Shiner, will
deprive him of tlie benefit of his 1904 date, and
leave' the parties entirely to their respective filing
dates, which at once disposes of the case in Edi¬
son’s favor. Tlie majority of tlie Examiners-in-
Cliief say that when Shiner reduced to practice in
1904 it was incumbent upon Edison to excuse his
apparent delay, and they are agreed that in order
25
to excuse that delay, lie must show that lie disclosed
the invention to the public in 1900 and because
they held, as we submit, erroneously, that the
proofs did not show such public disclosure, they
awarded priority to Sliiucr. By parity of reason¬
ing, when Edison filed Ins application and con¬
structively reduced tlie invention to practice in
January, 1900, it was incumbent upon Shiner to
excuse his delay since July, 1904, and in accord¬
ance with tlie rule applied to Edison, to excuse that
delay he must show that lie had disclosed the inven¬
tion to the public in 1904. We have seen, however,
tiiat there is no proof of any such public disclosure
by Shiner, and that two out of three of tlie Exaiu-
iners-iu-Chief are agreed that there was no public
disclosure of tlie Shiner invention prior to tlie filing
of Edison’s application. For this reason, if Edison
is held not to have disclosed tlie invention to the
public in 1900, and he is to lose the advantage of
that date because of such holding coupled with
Shiner’s reduction to practice in 1904, Shiner must
lose tlie advantage of tlie date of 1904 because of his
failure to disclose tiie invention to the public at
that time and his subsequent delay followed by the
filing of Edison's application. Front this it will
be seen that if neither party be held to have dis¬
closed tlie invention to tlie public at his respective
date of reduction to practice, Edison must prevail
by reason of his earlier filing date, and if it be
found — and tiie facts clearly warrant such finding
— that Edison disclosed in 1900 and Shiner did not
disclose in 1904, then Edison must prevail, both on
his work in 1900, and on his filing date.
Conclusion.
Edison completed the invention in 1900 and at
that time disclosed it to tlie public, and in Janu¬
ary, 1900, he independently, without tlie knowledge
2G
that any other person hail entered the field, filed
his application for patent. Shiner completed the
invention in 1004, hut took no step to disclose it
to the public until lie filed his application in Octo¬
ber, 100(1. The burden of proof is on Shiner, the
later applicant. While ho lias a patent, it was in¬
advertently granted and does not affect his stand¬
ing in this interference.
The general rule, which is always applicable
where there is no doubt of the successful reduction
to practice by the first inventor, and there is no
snch doubt about Edison’s 1000 work, is that prior¬
ity shall he awarded to the first inventor and under
that rule Edison is entitled to the award. What¬
ever exceptions there are to this general rule re¬
quire nflinmtive proof of an intent by the prior
inventor to suppress or conceal the invention ; that
a later inventor to secure the award of priority
must be diligent and must be the first to disclose
the invention to the public, and that the prior in¬
ventor’s subsequent activity shall he the result of
his knowledge of the advent of a rival into the field;
all those things must appear or the general rule
stated above will apply. That the development of
Edison’s invention was witnessed by numerous
visitors, that he subsequently filed his application
independently of Shiner; that Shiner was the last
to disclose the invention to the public, and that
Shiner'was not diligent, but was himself negligent,
negative not only one, but all. of the things neces¬
sary to bring Edison within such exceptions.
While Edison permitted a comparatively long
interval to elapse before filing his application,
Shiner himself was likewise negligent, and is not
in a position to urge estoppel against Edison by
reason of such delny.
The Examiners-in;Chief held that if Edison dis¬
closed the invention to the public in 1900, he there-
27 .
by excused his delay from that date until Shiner’s
activity in 1904. We have shown that he did so
disclose the invention to the public in 1900, and
for that reason lie is entitled to succeed in this in¬
terference. Applying the same rule to Shiner, ho
was hound to excuse his delay from 1904 until
Edison’s filing date by showing a disclosure to the
public prior to the date last named. He has not
proven any such disclosure, and for this reason,
Edison is entitled to succeed upon his filing date
For these reasons, we respectfully ask that the
decision of the Examincrs-in-Chief awarding prior¬
ity to Shiner be reversed, and that priority be
awarded to Edison.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK L. DYER,
Attorney for Edison.
Heiuiekt H. Dyke,
Dyer Smith,
Of Counsel.
Legal Department Records
Cement - Case File
Thomas A. Edison and the North American Portland Cement
Company v. Alsen's American Portland Cement Works
This folder contains material pertaining to the infringement suit brought
by Edison and the North American Portland Cement Co. against Alsen's
American Cement Works in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District
of New York. The case was initiated in March 1908 and involved Edison's
U.S. Patent 802,631 on long kilns. The court decided against Edison and
declared his patent invalid on May 7, 1913. The following items from the
complainant's record and brief have been selected:
Complainants' Record on Final Hearing
Index
Bill of Complaint
Testimony of Walter S. Mallory and Emil Herter
Complainants' Paper Exhibits 44, 46-53 (Edison drawings)
Complainants' Brief on Final Hearing
Summary and Index of Complainants' Argument
( Bop 29
- Louis IIicks, ' . ? •
Solicitor and Counsel for Complainants,
71 Nassau Street, ,
Now York, N. Y.
.0
Bill of complaint .
Replication . .
Order and consent, substituting Louis Hicks as solicitor
for complainants In place of Duucan & Duncan.... S
COMPLAINANTS' REBUTTAL TESTIMONY.
[PHOTOCOPY]
[PHOTOCOPY]
[PHOTOCOPY]
COMPLAINANTS’ PAPER EXHIBITS (Continued).
[PHOTOCOPY]
[PHOTOCOPY]
[PHOTOCOPY]
CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES,
Southern District of New York.
Thomas A. Edison mid North-
American Portland Cement
COMPANVj
.Complainants,
ayaiiiat
Alsbn’s American Portland
Cement Works,
Defendant.
Bill of Complaint.
TO THE HONORABLE THE JUDGES OP
THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED
STATES IN AND FOR THE SECOND
CIRCUIT AND SOUTHERN DISTRICT
OF NEW YORK.
THOMAS A. EDISON, a resident of Llewellyn 3
Park, Orange, Comity of Essex and State of New
Jersey, and a citizen of New Jersey and of the
United States, and the NORTH AMERICAN
PORTLAND CEMENT COMPANY, a corpora¬
tion duly organized and existing under the laws
of the State of New Jersey and having its prin¬
cipal office and being located in the City of New
York, County and State of. New York, and being
a citizen of New; Jersey and of the United States,
bring this their bill of complaint against the
ALSEN’S . AMERICAN PORTLAND ; CEMENT
4
Bill of Complaint.
2 Bill of Complaint.
4 WORKS, a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the State of New York and
of the United States and having a regular and
established place of business in the Town of
Alsen, County of Greene and State of New York,
and within the Southern District of New York,
and having there committed acts of infringement
as hereinafter stated.
And thereupon your orators complain and say
that; said THOMAS A. EDISON was the original,
first and sole inventor of certain new and useful
apparatus for burning Portland cement clinker
which was not known or used by others in tins
5 country before his invention or discovery thereof
and not patented or described in nuy printed
publication in this or any foreign country before
ids invention or discovery thereof or more than 4
two years prior to Ids application for United
Staes patent therefor and not in public nse or
on sale in the United States for more than two
years prior to bis said application and not pre¬
viously patented in any country foreign to thu
United States on an application filed by him or
bis legal representatives or assigns more than
seven months prior to his said application and
that said invention had not been abandoned.
6 And your orators further show unto your
Honors that said Thomas A. Edison being ns
nfoi'csaid the original, first, sole and true inven¬
tor of said apparatus for burning Portland
cement clinker did upon his due and formal ap¬
plication therefor, tiled December 5, 1902, in the
United States Patent Office, obtnin United States
patent 802,631 bearing date October 24, 1906 on
and for said invention in due form of law under
the seal of the Patent Office of the United States, *'
signed by the Secretary of the Interior and by
the Commissioner of Patents, and duly recorded,
whereby there were grunted to said Thomas A.
Edison, his heirs and nssigns, for the term of
seventeen years from and after the date of said
patent., the full and exclusive right and liberty
. of making, using and selling said invention os
set forth in said patent throughout the United
States of America and the territories thereof, to
the full end of the term of said letters patent ns
by reference to said patent or a duly certified
copy thereof ready here in court to be produced
will more fully appear.
Your orators further show unto your Honors
that a certain licunse agreement was duly made
and executed on or about August 81, 1899, by and
between said Thomas A. Edison and the Edison
Portland Cement Company, a corporation duly
{?, organized nnd existing under the laws of the
State of New Jersey, whereby certain exclusive
license privileges were granted to and in favor
of said Edison Portland Cement Compnny as by
reference to said license agreement or a duly
certified copy thereof ready here in court, to be
produced, will more fully appear; and that sub¬
sequently a license agreement was duly made and
executed on or about January 0, 1908 by and
between said Thomas A. Edison, said Edison
Portland Cement Company, and said North
American Portland Cement Company by which
said North American Portland Cement Company
was granted the exclusive right to make, use and
sell and to license others to make, use and sell said
inventions in apparatus for burning Portland
cement clinker and certain claims and rights to
damages and profits for the unauthorized' use of
a said inventions and the right to prosecute suits
' for the enforcement and recovery thereof, as, by
reference to said license agreement or a duly cer¬
tified copy thereof, ready here in Court to be
'4 Bill of Complaint,
produced, will more fully appear, whereby your
orators are the sole aud exclusive owners of said
patent 802,031 and of the invention thereby
patented, together with all claims, demands,
rights and causes of action, at law or in equity,
for any and all past and present infringements
with full right, power and authority to demand,
sue for, recover, receive and receipt for the same
for your orators’ own exclusive use and benefit
to the full end of the term for which said patent
was granted.
Your orators further show that your orators
nnd said Edison Portland Cement Company have
been to great trouble and expense in relation to
said invention in order to introduce, manufacture,
sell and practice the same, and render the same
profitable to themselves and to the public and
that said invention has been and is of great bene¬
fit and advantage to the Portland cement, indus¬
try aud to tile public generally, that said inven¬
tion has gone into extensive' public use nnd lias
generally superseded all prior apparatus for
producing Portland cement clinker and that a
large number of persons and corporations have
recognized the exclusive rights of your orators
to said inventions and are using and have made,
used nnd sold the same under license from your
orators; and that your orators have been and
are able to supply the entire demand for such
apparatus for burning Portland cement clinker.
And your orators further show on information
and belief that they and their licensees nnd rep¬
resentatives in interest have given due and suffi¬
cient notice to the public that said apparatus for
burning Portland cement clinker was patented
by affixing thereto the word “Patented” together
with tlie date of said patent or otherwise giving
notice of their rights in relation thereto.
Bill of Complaint. 5
Yet, said defendant well knowing the premises 13
and the rights secured to your orators as afore¬
said, hut contriving, conspiring'and confederating
with other persons to injure your orators aud to ,
deprive them of the profits, benefits nnd advan¬
tages which might and otherwise would accrue
to them from said invention has, since the grant
of suid patent and since full nnd explicit notice
from your- orators of their rights thereunder nnd
before the commencement of tills suit made, used
and sold and is still continuing to make, use and
sell at its said place of business within said
district and elsewhere in said district and in the
United States, apparatus for burning Portland 14
cement clinker embodying the invention, prin¬
ciple of operation and claimed combinations of
? said patent and in infringement thereof, nnd in
Violation of your orators' rights therein and
without the license, consent or allowance of your
orators, and that said defendant although fully
advised of your orators' rights in the premises
and warned to desist from infringement thereof,
threatens to continue to make, use and sell within
said district and elsewhere, said apparatus for
burning Portland cement clinker and otherwise
infringe said patent, whereby your orators have
| suffered great and irreparable loss, damage and 15
injury and have been deprived of great gains and
profits which have been wrongfully aproprinted
and enjoyed by said defendant through his un¬
lawful acts and whereby your orators are threat¬
ened with great nnd irreparable future loss,
damage nnd injury.
And since your orators can have no adequate
remedy or relief, except in this Court, to the end
therefore that said defendant may, if it can,
show why your orators should not ‘have the
relief hereby prayed, and may according to the
fi Bill of Complaint.
10 boat anti utmost knowledge, remembrance, in¬
formation ami belief of sattl defendant and ils
ollieei's, agents and servants, full, true, direct and
perfect answer make to tiie premises (but not
under oath, answer under oath being hereby ex¬
pressly waived) and to all the matters herein¬
before stuted and charged us fully and particu¬
larly as if specifically and separately interrogated
as to each and every one of said matters, and
may be compelled to account for and pay to your
• orators the profits acquired by said defendant'
and the damages suffered by your orators from
tiie aforesaid unlawful acts, together with such
17 increase upon tiie actual damages as may seem
to this Honorable Court fit and just, according
to tiie provisions of the law relating thereto and
that the said defendant, its agents, attorneys, ^
workmen, employees and representatives, and
each aiid every one of them, may be restrained
and enjoined provisionally and preliminary ns
well as perpetually by due orders and injunc¬
tions of tliis Honorable Court from directly or
indirectly making, using or selling or causing
to be mude, used or sold any apparatus in in¬
fringement of suid patent and be ordered to pay
tiie costs of this suit and that your orators may
18 have such other and further relief as is lust and
equitable ill the premises.
May it please your Honors to grant to your
orators the writs of injunction provisionally ns
well as perpetually as hereinbefore prayed,' and
also to grant to your orators the writ of subpoena
directed to said defendant and commanding it
by a certain day and under a certain penalty to
be and appear in this Honorable Court and then
Bill of Complaint. 7
and there to answer the premises and to abide 19
such order and decree as shall be made.
And your orators will ever pray, etc.
THOMAS A. EDISON and NORTH
AMERICAN PORTLAND OEM-
ENT COMPANY.
By their solicitors,
Duncan & Duncan,
73 Nassau Street,
New York City.
FREDERICK S. DUNCAN,
HARRY L. DUNCAN,
STATE OF NEW YORK,) >
County of New York. j SS-
On this 2d day of March, 1908, before me per¬
sonally appeared -T. ROGERS MAXWELL, who
being duly sworn, deposes and says that lie is
tiie president of the corporation complninnnt;
that lie lias read tiie foregoing bill of complaint
and knows the contents thereof and that lie
knows that tiie said bill of complaint is true,
except ns to tiie matters therein stated to be al¬
leged on information and belief and as to those
matters be verily believes it to be true. .21
J. ROGERS MAXWELL.
Subscribed and sworn to before me)
this 2d day of March, 1908. j
J. L. Medler,
Notary Public, Kings Co.
Certificate filed in New York Co.
[Seal.]
Filed March 2, 1908.
844 Deposition of Walter S. Mallory.
WALTER S. MALLORY, a witness being duly
sworn on behalf of the complainants, testifies as
follows :
Dinner examination by Mr. Hicks:
Mr. Hicks: Complainants offer in evi¬
dence a copy of the letter which Complain¬
ant’s Counsel requested Defendant’s Coun-
Dcposilion of Walter S. Mallory. 845
set to produce following the answer to Q45 2533
of Mr. Mason’s deposition anil the same is
marked
“Complainants’ Exhibit, Letter of Decem¬
ber 8th, 1005, notifying Alsou’s American
Portland Cement Works of Edison Patent
No. 802,031.”
Mr. Richmond: Objected to us not propei
rebuttal testimony, und even if it be ad¬
mitted that the letter was mailed by Mr.
Dyer, nevertheless it is objected to os not
constituting proper notice .to the defendant
as required by the statute.
Mr. Hicks : When proof of the mailing of 2534
a letter is given, a presumption arises that
the letter was received by the person to
whom it was addressed.
Subject to the foregoing objection IT IS
STIPULATED by und between Counsel
for the resepective parties that if Mr.
Frank L, Dyer were called to testify
in this cuusc, be would testify that as
attorney for Thomas A. Edison, at Orange,
N. J. on December 8th, 1905, he wrote
and signed and sent by the United
States mail a letter, a copy of which is set
forth in Complainants’ Exhibit, Letter of 2535
December 8th, 1905, just offered in evidence,
enclosed together with a copy of Edison
Patent No. 802, G31, in a sealed envelope
with the postage thereon prepaid, directed
to “Alsen’s American Portland Cement
Works, Alsen, near Catskill, New York.”;
and that this stipulation shall have the
same force and effect as would the testi¬
mony of Mr. Dyer if he were called upon to
testify and testified to the effect above
84(i Deposition of Walter S. Mallory.
2580 Ql. Please state your name, age, residence and
occupation?
A. Walter S. Mallory, age 51, residence, Easton,
Pa., I am president of the Edison Portland Cement
Company, president of the Fohatcoug Hailroad
Company, President of the Architectural Concrete
Company, vice-president of the Warren County
Warehouse Company, president of the North Jer¬
sey Paint Company, vice-president of the Associa¬
tion of American Portland Cement .Manufacturers,
and former president of the Association of Ameri¬
can Portland Cement Manufacturers during the
year 1910.
2587 Q2. Please state fully, and in your own way
what you know of the facts leading to the installa¬
tion of the first two Edison 150 foot kilns at New
Village?
A. In 1898 Mr. Edison and 1 were engaged in the
problem of trying to concentrate low grade iron
ore, and otir work was held up for the lack of
money and we were commencing to realize that
the work of the previous seven or eight years would
probably not be successful commercially, and that
the investment of about two and a half million
dollars would probably be lost. Of this amount
Mr. Edison had personally advanced $2,100,-
2538 000, and at this time the concentrating com¬
pany had an indebtedness of about $175,000, iifty
thousand of which was owed to our banks and
$125,000 to our merchandise creditors, the com¬
pany not having the money in hand or in sight with
which to pay its liabilities, and although Mr. Edi¬
son was not liable for the debt except to the banks,
and did not have the money in hand to pay the
liabilities, he guaranteed the payment of them all,
and it took us about five years subsequent to 1898
to pay them in full. During the period of 1898
when the concentrating work was held up for the
want of money, Mr. Edison and I had many talks
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory. 847
as to the best way in which to apply the mechanical 2539
devices which had been successfully worked out in
the concentrating experience, and we decided to
apply them . to the manufacture of Fortluud ce¬
ment. In the concentrating material we had de¬
veloped the mining of raw material by the aid of
steum shovels, the crushing of rocks up to eight
and ten tons weight by the aid of the giant, crush¬
ing rolls, the drying of the raw material by the
aid of a vertical drier having very large capacity,
the fine grinding of the material by the aid of rolls,
the separating of the finu from the coarser particles
by the aid of air separation, a system of conveyers
for carrying the material to and from the various 2540
machines, and when we first started to consider the
manufacture of Portland cement, it was our in-
r tention to use in connection with the preceding
described machinery, the sixty foot kilu which was
then in general use. It, however, did not take Mr.
Edison very long to figure out and state “the sixty
foot kiln is a rotten proposition” and to also state
“1 believe I can invent a kilu which will be very
much more efficient in economy and have a much
larger output than a sixty foot kiln”. Subsequent
to this statement Mr. Edison and myself hud sev¬
eral discussions on the subject of a sixty foot kiln
and one day in my office he made the assertion 2541
“Mallory, I’m going to build a kiln that will make
a thousand barrels in twenty-four hours” and lie
showed me a lead pencil sketch of a kilu with
which he expected to accomplish this result. As I
recall, this lead pencil sketch was shown to me
about January, 1899. About March 1899 we
started the building of a wooden model which, as I
recall, was about eight feet in diameter and ten
* feet long. This model we intended to represent one
section of the proposed kilu. This model was built
so it could be rotated, and with it we tried many
experiments at various speeds so that we could
S4S Deposition of Walter S. Mallory.
2542 watch tlm action of the flow of botli line ami coarse
material. At- first wo used a lining made of wood
witli a plain surface. Subsequently we made
wooden linings with various corrugated shapes,
and with these various shapes we duplicated the
tests already referred to. In June 1800 Mr. Edi¬
son purchased from the Lehigh Portland Cement:
Company 150 barrels ot cement clinker so that we
might observe the action of the clinker in the
wooden model with the various linings to which I
have already referred. As I recall in July 1899 we
sturted the erection of a wooden model of the en¬
tire cement plant which was built on the scale of
2548 two inches to the foot. The object of this model
was to get the best possible arrangement of tbe
machinery and also to enable Mr. Edison to make
necessary changes in the design before the final
dru wings were made. This work continued through
August and September and during that month
photographs were made of the model of the kiln.
The photographs to which I refer are dated Sep¬
tember 10, September 28th, October 7th mid Octo¬
ber 7th, 1S99 which 1 understand have already been
oll'ered in evidence. After the model of the kiln
had been completed to the satisfaction of Mr. Edi¬
son, working drawings were made and the cast-
2544 ings were ordered as I recall in November, 1899
from the Wheeler Engineering and Condensing
Company, Carteret, N. J., and it was decided to
have these castings together with the other neces¬
sary machinery to operate the kiln shipped to
Orange, N. J., so that we might erect the kiln ut
Mr. Edison’s laboratory, that all experimental
work done in connection with it might be done
under Mr. Edison’s personal attention. This was
thought wise in spite of the extra expense necessary
because the kiln was so radically different from the
existing kilns in general use. hi November 1899
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory. 849
we engaged tbe services of Mr. L. II. DcVoe to in- 2545
vestignte the matter of linings for kilns which nt
that time we called roasters. Mr. DeVoo made
trips to New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and
also visited tbe plant of the Atlas Portland Cement
Company at Northampton, I-a., to investigate tbe
character of this lining then being used by the ce¬
ment company, and also had interviews with the
manufacturers of fire brick us to the possibility of
obtaining corrugated fire brick which we laid de¬
cided to use in the experimental kiln. My recol¬
lection in this matter is refreshed by a letter
from Mr. DcVoe dated January 3rd, 1900, which
I hand to Defendant’s Counsel for his inspection. 2540
During March 1900 I ordered from various
manufacturers the necessary machinery con¬
sisting of gears, bearings, hangers, asbestos board,
shafting, etc. etc., that the experimental kiln might
be put in operation for testing purposes. As X
recall the cast iron cylinders were received ut
Orange, N. J. the latter part of February or curly
in March 1900, and X linil negotiations with Messrs.
Dexheimer & Son, Orange, N. J. covering the un¬
loading and placing the cylinders on the support¬
ing wheels, and on March 20th, 1900 1 made an
agreement with them that for the sum of 8100 they
were to place the cylinders in their respective posi- 2547
lions on the friction or supporting wheels, and at
the same time made a further arrangement that
for the additional sum of 8105 they were to remove
the cylinders from their bearings, load them on
the cars of the D. U & W. Hailroud for shipment
to New Village, N. J. as soon as the experimental
work in connection with the kiln had been com¬
pleted. This is shown by my letter of March 20th,
1900 to P. Dexheimer & Son, and also by our
requisition No. 382 of March 20th, 1900 which
was forwarded to P. Dexheimer & Son. The work
of const '.ruction on the kiln was continued from
time to time through the year 1900 and on Decem¬
ber llth, 1000, I wrote Sir. Darling us follows:
“I am trying to got together material so the
burner test can be made, uiul wish you would ad¬
vise me exactly what you are doing towards get¬
ting the cunient rock ready for us, and when you
expect to be able to ship it. Also advise what
quantity Sir. Edison lias requested you to ship.
X would like this information so to be able to take
it up with the Railroad Company and sue if I can¬
not get a low freight rate.1’
On December 13th, 11)00 I wrote Sir. Darling “I
understand that you have a lot of cement bugs on
hand. If so, please ship us 1000 which we will use
in storing the fine coal for tile burner experiment".
Also on December 1.5th, 1900 l wrote Sir. Darl¬
ing:
“Yours of the 14th regarding bags noted. The
coal 1ms been shipped, aiul we are anxious to get:
grinding at the earliest possible moment, and
would prefer tlint you ship us the 1000 bugs as
requested relying on getting a thousand second
hand ones from the Vulcanite People. Please let
the bags or a portion of them go forward at once.”
On May 23rd, 1901 Mr. William Simpkin who
was chief draftsman wrote Mr. Darling:
“Since writing you this A. M. we have taken up
the matter of the excavation for the cooler in the
roaster house and to-day mail you two prints
A-415 revised in this respect. Until we are through
with the experimental roaster here it is inadvis¬
able to go any further than this.”
On May 31st, 1901 I wrote Mr. Darling:
“The cement burner Mr. Streckel will return to
his home to-night. We have arranged with him
to come for another week as soon us we are ready.
We have promised him a full two weeks’ pay and
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory. 851
asked him to send you a memorandum of his ex- 2551.
penses. I told him that you would remit promptly
as soon as same is received.”
On June 1st, 1901 1 wrote Mr. Darling:
“Your favor of the 31st inst. at hand. The car
of cement rock received here this morning* and we
ure now unloading same. Confirming a telegram
sent you a few moments ago which reads as fol¬
lows: ‘Ship three more cars crushed Cliuu cement
rock.’ Tins makes the total of four cars which we
ordered from you.”
' On June 22ud, 1901 I wrote Mr. Darling:
“We confirm telegram sent you at. 10.15 this A.
M. as follows: ‘Streckel, the burner says he can- 2552
not come. Dave you another.’ (Signed) Edison.
Mr. Streckel in wiring us says: ‘see letter.’ His
letter lias not yet come to hand, hut we have for¬
warded you the telegram as directed by Mr. Edi¬
son, so you might be on the lookout for auothur
burner. Should. Mr. Streckel's letter inform us
that lie can come some other (lay than Monday,
we will wire you.”
On July 10th, 1901, 1 wrote Mr. Darling:
“We sent you this morning the burner whom you
obtained for us. We are not practically impressed
with his knowledge and on investigation find that
lie ran a burner for the Vulcanite people a total 2553
of about six months, two mouths of this time
using oil and the balance coal. We were not im¬
pressed with his knowledge and yesterday he got
the burner so very hot that one of the large cast¬
ings cracked. There, however, was a defect in
the casting’ which probably accounts for the
trouble. We we putting on hands and will have
the thing ready in a few days.
We are also fixing the feeding device so it can
be run in or out and turn in any direction so that
we can deliver the coal where we choose. This
will take some days.
852 Deposition of Walter S. Mallory.
2554 As to the results we obtained in test of yester¬
day, we started in feeding about 14 tons of cement
rock per hour, using oO pounds of coal per barrel,
and the front end of the burner chilled and all the
cement rock became fluid, showing wlint an in¬
tense heat can lie obtained from a small amount of
coal if it is powdered lino enough. One thing wu
are very sure, that our estimate of 50 pounds of
coni per barrel of cement is conservative. We ulso
believe having the long clinker none, wo will be
able to accomplish the work with a very much
lower temperature, which, of course, means less
fuel per barrel, and a much greater output. The
2555 chances are the next time we start we will not get
an expert here but feel our way carefully, ns we
do not find them of very much value, our appliance
being so very much dilT'ercnt from the apparatus
with which they are familiar.
As far as the cracking of the cylinder is con¬
cerned, wu do not attach much importance to that,
us wu cun put bands on all the cylinders, and make
them so strong that there will be no trouble of
cracking, even if the castings ure defective.”
On July 19th, 1001, I wrote Messrs. Pilling &
Crane, Philadelphia, Pa:
“We have made further tests on the roaster and
2556 find we are still Unable to get the heat at the front
end, for the reason the guns are stationary and de¬
liver the material too far up; so we have decided
to put the gun carriage on a movable table, so
that we can deliver the powdered coal in the center
of the roaster ns at present, or anywhere along
the side, top or bottom. By this means we will he
able to deliver the coal exactly where it is needed.
In our’test we have been able to make clinker with
50 pounds of coal per barrel, so the only tiling left
to be determined is what degree of economy of
fuel and output we can get. It will take some
days to make the change.
Deposition of Walter 8. Mallory. 853
We have most of the material on hand and will
go ahead with the work night and day until it is
pleted.
Mr. Edison leaves to-morrow morning for Lake
Clmtnuqua to take a very -much needed rest. He
will be gone two or three weeks, but it has been ar¬
ranged, however, tliut we shall go ahead with the
roaster experiment in his absence. He says from
the experience of the last test there is no reason
why it cannot be successfully operated in his ab¬
sence.”
On July 24th, 1001, I wrote Mr. Edison at
Clmtnuqua, N. Y. :
“1 beg herewith to enclose cablegram just re¬
ceived from London which expluins itself.
We are pushing ahead on the gun carriage for
the roaster, also putting on straps. I understood
from you the last afternoon before you left, that
we were to go ahead and make the tests on the
rooster as soon us it was in working condition,
nnd see what coiild be done in the way of making
clinker. Mr. Siinpkin’s understanding is that we
are to simply make tests with the fuel and not
make any clinker. Please advise your wishes. -
Mr. Darling says that lie can get for us the. first
burner any time we need him. As I recollect it,
he was the most intelligent of the three we have
lmd. If you desire to have clinker made in your
absence, please state whether we shall send for
this burner. We will be ready in two or three
days to start up.”
On August 7th, 1901 I wrote Mr. W. S. Pilling,
treasurer of the Edison Portland Cement Com¬
pany :
“Replying to yours of . the 6th iust., asking the
condition of the work on the roaster, beg to state
that during the last test which was made a few
days before .Mr. Edison left for his vacation, we
854 Deposition of Wulter S. Mallory.
2660 mnde a small amount of eliuker, using our own
raw materials, and since tliut time we lmve been
testing the' cement which was made from this
clinkor.
We sent you under separate cover three
briquettes made from this particular lot of clinker.
These briquettes were exposed to the air for
twenty-four hours and had been in water since
July 19th. We have had several of them tested
for tensile strength and they show up very well.
The tests on the burner, when this clinkor wus
made, showed that we had an immense amount of
heat and we fully believe that the roaster will
2661 give the capacities that Mr. Edison expects.
During Mr. Edison’s absence, we have ground
up the larger quantity of cement rock, and now
have about 150 tons of cement rock and limestone,
200 mesh nnd finer. The roaster is ready for fur¬
ther test and we had intended going ahead with it,
hut received word from Mr. Edison a few days
since not to make the test until he returns, as he
preferred to watch the action of the coal and the
clinker; so we will he unable to do anything fur¬
ther until his return.' One tiling you may put
down us certain; the roaster will make satisfactory
clinker and it is now simply a question of the
2562 minimum amount of coal per barrel we can ob¬
tain and the maximum output.
We also' know from tests already made that our
cement rock and limestone will make a high grade
of cement, as you will see from the three briquettes
we send you. Water discolors the briquettes
some, so we have had them cleaned to show true
color.”
On August 0th, 1901 I wrote the Edison Port¬
land Cement Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
“We are pleased to receive copy of Mr. Reid’s
letter enclosed witli yours of the 8th inst. We felt
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory. 855
confident that Mr. Reid would live up to his sub- 2668
scription, and are very glad he has been so well
impressed.
Regarding burner, we have 150 tons of cement
rock and limestone all ground to pass 200 mesh
screen; also have the necessary coal for burning
and yesterday afternoon lmd the burner in opera¬
tion, testing the changes on the guns to see if they
were all right. We made some little clinker yester¬
day afternoon, but only a small lot, as Mr. Edi¬
son lmd directed us sincu he has been away not to
go ahead witli the test until he returns.
Tile test yesterday afternoon again confirmed
the previous results, und showed that we are able 2564
to get a very long clinkering zone, and put it in
any part of the burner we desire. One time we
f. had the clinkering zone in the front in the first
fifteen feet of the burner nearest to the gun, and
subsequently we lmd it at the 'far end to such an
extent that solid flume came out of the smoke stack.
Tlie clinker made yesterday afternoon was of very
good quality, but, of course, this does not indicate
much as there was only a very small quantity of
it put through.
As written you before, the only questions yet to
be solved are the minimum quantity of coal re¬
quired per barrel of cement, and the maximum 2565
output of clinker per hour; as every time we have
put cement rock through we have made good
clinker.”
After additional tests had been made it was de¬
cided to take down the kiln and ship it to the ce¬
ment plant at New Village, N. J., and on October
15th, 1901 we made an arrangement with P. Dex-
lieimer & Son, Orange, N. J. to take down, cart,
» and load on the cars of the D. L. & W. Railroad
Company, securely staying the various parts same
as when they arrived at Orange, N. J., for the sum
of $245, the following goods to be covered in the
Soli Deposition of Walter S. Mallory.
2560 above : “Cooler complete with gears, shafts, stands
and hearings, east iron rings built in brick work,
all roaster cylinders, all carrier wheels with shafts
and hearings, hearing gear, shaft, hearings and
stands for driving guar, thrust wheel anti stands,
Anuington & Sims engine” as is shown by requisi¬
tion 8440 which confirmed- our letter to Dexheimer
& Son of October 9th, 1901. The original contract
to which I have already testified anti which is
shown by my letter of March 20th, 1900, by which
Dexheimer & Son were to do the work for $105,
was correct, the .difference between the $245 and
the $105 being represented by the. additional ma-
2667 ehiuery which he took down and carted, which was
not covered by the first arrangement. ;
The experimental kiln which was erected at
Orange, N. J. was 150 feet in length made up of
two sections, 100. feet of Which was composed of
cast iron cylinders Which revolved, and 50 feet of a
brick chamber containing paddles which were me¬
chanically operated so as to convey the raw ma¬
terial into the revolving part of the kiln. When
the experimental kiln was shipped to New Village
for erection at the cement plant we ordered addi¬
tional cast iron cylinders to make its length 150
feet, all of which was to revolve, and at about the
2568 same time we ordered a second kiln 150 feet in
length. When these kilns were put in operation,
and I would report to Mr. Edison that we had ob¬
tained an output of from 450 to 550 barrels per
day lie would be very much disappointed, and
would say to me that we were not beginning to get
anything like the capacity of the kilns, and I would
return to the cement plant with the determination,
if possible, to have the output increased. As we
had more experience with the operation of the kiln
we were enabled to get the outputs up to 700 and
800 barrels per day, and each, time I would report
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory. 857
the result to Mr. Edison he would always insist 2509
that a much larger capacity was possible. Finally,
after a good many trials, we were enabled to obtain
nn output of 1000 barrels in 24 hours, thus making
good Mr. Edison’s prediction when he first started
at work on the kiln. In connection with the kiln
work, nnd in my contact with the cement manu¬
facturers and some of our own stock holders, dur¬
ing the development and experimental period of
the work, I had many discussions nnd arguments
as to the probability of the kiln being successful
and at first 1 was somewhat/ skeptical that Mr. Edi¬
son would be able to obtain a large increase in out¬
put which he expected, but after the early tests 2570
I was convinced that he was right. I recall one of
our stockholders stating to me that some friend
who was interested in the manufacture of cement
stated to him that the Edison kiln could never be a
success, that if it could be made to run mechanic¬
ally it was doubtful that clinker could be pro¬
duced in it, and if clinker was produced
in it, that it would not be of good quality,
and the stockholder asked me if I was sure that
we were on the right track, nnd were warranted in
making the large investment necessary in install¬
ing two kilns each of 150 feet in length, and I told
him that I had no question as to the ultimate out- 2671
come, that from the results' Of the tests I felt that
Mr. Edison’s expectations would he realized and
that the future would prove that Mr. Edison had
made a great invention which would ultimately
be recognized as such by the cement industry as
a whole, and such lias proven to he the case.
Mn. Richmond : Objected to as largely
secondary, and therefore incompetent.
Mu. Hicks: - The objection upon the
ground that the answer of the witness is
largely secondary is so indefinite that Com-
858
Disposition of Walter S. Mallory.
2572 pluinants’ Counsel can make no application
of tlic objection to any specific part of the
answer. If tile objection is made specific,
Complainants’ Counsel will meet the objec¬
tion by further testimony.
ltECKSS.
(AFTJSB ltECKSS)
Mb. Richmond: Attention is directed to
the following; TUrougbont the answer allu¬
sions are made to what Mr. Edison real¬
ized, or intended, or figured out, or said. On
these mutters it is believed that Mr. Edj-
son would be the most competent witness.
See also reference to the lead pencil sketch,
(typewritten page 944, line G), Mr. DeVoe’s
investigation (top of typewritten page 940),
quotations from letters (typewritten pages
947, 948, 949, 950, 951, 952, 953, 954), ar¬
rangement with Dexheimer (typewritten
page 955, line 4), contract and letter .(same
page, lines 15 to 17), Mr. Edison’s disap¬
pointment and what he would' say (type¬
written page 950, lines 11, 12, 18, 19,
22), discussions and arguments (typewrit¬
ten page 957, line 2), statement by stock¬
holder (same page, line 7) question by
stockholder (same page, line 13) alleged
recognition that Mr. Edison had made a
great invention (same page, line 22).
Mu. Hicks: The witness is us competent
a witness as Mr. Edison to prove what Mr.
Edison did or said or intended within the
knowledge of the witness. As to the pencil
sketch, it will be offered in evidence. As
to DeVoe’s investigation, the witness has
testified from his direct knowledge. As to
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory. 859
quotations from letters, the letters have 2575
been set forth in full und will be offered in
evidence if Counsel for Defendant so de¬
sires. The subject matter of the letters is
confirmed by the witness’s testimony and
reference to ■ the letters wus made in con¬
firmation of the recollection of the witness.
Q3. Referring to the letters of December lltli,
13th, and 15th 1900 and May 23, 31, June 1, 22,
July 1G, 19, 24, and August 7, 9, 1901, which you
rend into your answer to the last question, please
state whether you read in to your answer the entire
contents of each of those letters? „g70
A. Yes. '
Q4. I show you letters dated Murcli 3, 5, 7, 12,
14, 15, 15, 20, 20, 21, 2G, 26, 26, 27, 27, 27, 29, 29,
und April 4, 5, and June 19, 1900, and ask you to
state whether, to your knowledge, those letters were
written at their respective dates?
A. I believe that they were.
Q5. I also show you letters dated July 10, Au¬
gust 28, October 5, December 17, 1901 and .April 19
and July 16, 1902, and ask you to state whether
the said letters were written at their respective
dates?
A. I believe that they were. .
Q6. In what form are the letters enumerated in 2677
Q3 and set forth ill your answer to Q2, and the
letters enumerated in Qs 4 and 5?
A. All the letters to which you refer are letter
press copies of the original letters.
Q7. Do you know whether those letters are cor¬
rectly copied in the letter press book?
A. I believe that they are.
Q8. Do you know whether the facts are cor¬
rectly set forth in those letters?
Mu. Richmond: Objected to as leading.
Deposition of Walter S. .Mallory.
Jin. Hicks : The witness 1ms already tes¬
tified that lie wrote or received the more
pertinent of the letters, and has quoted them
in full.
A. Yes, so far as my understanding of the sub¬
ject matter at the time they were written.
QD. Did the transactions referred to in the let¬
ters take place, to your knowledge, at the times
indicated m tiie letters;
Jilt. Uiohmond: Same objection.
A. Yes.
QJO. Refreshing your recollection from those
letters, contained in the letter press book, can
yqu testify ns to whether or not the transactions
mentioned in the letters took place at the dates
indicated in the letters?
Jin. Richmond: Same objection.
A. Yes.
Qll. Please state then whether the transactions
mentioned in the letters took place at the dates indi¬
cated in the letters.
Jla. Richmond: Same objection.
A. I believe that, they did.
8(10
2578
Jla. Hicks: Complainants offer in evi¬
dence the letters quoted by the witness in
his answer to Q2 and mentioned in Q3;
Complainants also offer in evidence the
letters mentioned in Qs 4 and 5, and the
same are marked
“Complainants’ Exhibit, correspondence
produced by Jlr. JIallory relating to the
installation of the roaster at the Edison
laboratory, West Orange, and at the New
Village Plant.”
of Walter S. JIallory.
801
Deposition
IT IS STIPULATED
Counsel 2581
for tiie respective parties that copies of the
letters comprising the foregoing exhibit may
be substituted for the letter press book cop¬
ies and marked ns above indicated, subject
to correction by comparison with the letter
press hook copies at any time which will
be produced by Complainants' Counsel upon
reasonable notice from Defendant’s Coun-
Q12. Can you produce the lead pencil sketch
which, in answer to Q2, you say Jlr. Edison exhib¬
ited to yon in your office about January, 1899? 2582
JIu. Richmond : Objected to as secondary
and incompetent; it is believed that the
man who showed the sketch is the most com¬
petent to testify in regard to it.
A. 1 believe that I can.
Q13. Please do so.
A. I believe this to lie tiie lead pencil sketch
which he allowed me at that time.
Q14. This sketch sets forth certain legends such
as “90 — lined witli shaped brick 6 thick — lined
single fire brick — dia outside 7 ft.” and others.
In whose handwriting are these legends and in 2688
whose drawing is tiie sketch?
A. I should say that in all but two cases the
handwriting is that of Jlr. Edison, and the draw¬
ing was made by Jlr. Edison.
Q15. What are the two cases where the hand¬
writing is not Jlr. Edison’s?
A. “Stnck 5 feet inside of lining”, and “flange
2l/a inches thick, 5 inches”.
Q16. Can you say in whose handwriting these
two legends are?
SG2 Deposition of Walter S. Mallory.
2584 A. I believe it to be the handwriting of Mr.
Emil llerter.
Jin. Hioks: The sketch produced by the
witness is ottered in evidence and marked
"Conipluinuiuts' Exhibit. Edison Sketch
No. 1, January 180!)”.
Jilt. Richmond: Same objection.
Jilt. Hicks: The witness who suw the
sketch and received Jlr. Edison’s statement
in regard to it is ns competent to testify
in regard to it ns Jlr. Edison who made the
sketch.
2685 Q17. Referring to the four blueprint photo¬
graphs of September ltitli and 28tb and October
7th and October 7th, 1899, can you state what
length each suction of the rotary parts of the
two' model kilns was intended to represent, accord¬
ing to the scale of two inches to a foot, which you
have already given?
A. Ten feet, except in the case of the end sec¬
tions which were each five feet.
Q18. in your answer to Q2 you say that the
experimental kiln which was erected at Orange.
N. J. was 150 feet in length made up of two sec¬
tions, 100 feet of which was composed of cast
2680 j,.on cylinders which revolved and 50 feet of a brick
chamber containing paddles, which were mechani¬
cally operated so as to convey the raw material
into the revolving part of the kiln. Please refer to
the book of photographs and state whether you find
this 150 foot kiln shown by any of the photo¬
graphs? f .
A. The second and third of the photographs
marked April 1st 1900 show the 150 foot kiln to
which I have referred, and I also find that the
first photograph dated April 1st, 1900 shows the
150 foot kiln already referred to.
i
Deposition of Walter S. Jlallory. 803
Q19. Please look at the photograph marked
"Roaster — Fob. 4-02”, and state what it shows?
A. It shows the 150 foot kiln built of cast iron
sections for its full length as erected at the ce¬
ment plant at New Village, N. J.
Q20. Do you recollect the number of this kiln
at the New Village plant?
A. i believe it to be the kiln which we call
No. 1 erected at the New Village plant.
Q21. And did kiln No. 1 of that date (Feb.
4 1902) include any part of the experimental
kiln set up at Jlr. Edison’s laboratory at West
Orange?
Jin. Richmond: Objected to as lending.
A. 100 feet of it was composed of the same sec-
tions tis those used at. Jlr. Edison’s laboratory at j
Orange, N. J. j;
Q22. When was it that the 100 feet, constituting |
the rotary part of the laboratory experimental (| '
kiln were shipped from the laboratory to New
Village?
A. About, October, 1901. [
Q23. Please state who caused this book of pho¬
tographs to be made up, referring to the book con¬
taining the four blueprint photographs and the 2f.g9
three photographs dated April 1st, 1900, and the |
photograph dated February 4, 1902, mentioned in
the questions just, put to you? f);,
A. The book was made under my direction. . !j
Q24. The book contains apparently 100 photo¬
graphs or so. What have you to say in regard :j; ‘V;
to the arrangement of those photographs with re¬
spect to time?
A. When the book was started it was the inten- V?-
tion to have photographs taken from time to time nj:
so that we might, have a series of pictures in con- !||
socutive order showing the progress of the work. S
8(14 Disposition of Will I or S. Mallory.
2(500 Q2B. Doos each photograph boat- a (lute?
A. They do, except 13 between the period of
April. 1st, 1000 and Slay 31st, 1900.
(J2(i. Do Hie thirteen which have no dates ap¬
pear to lie in their proper place chronologically?
SI. a. ItiGUMOXu: Objected to. us leading.
Mu. Hicks: The witness may say that
they do not.
A. They do. as they relate to the opening of
our quarry and tlio excavation of a rock crusher,
drier, and rock stock houses, which were among the -
first construction work which we did.
•2591 Q27. Now, since you have examined the photo¬
graphs in the hook with regard to the chronologi¬
cal order thereof, and the (lutes thereof, please
state whether or not the photographs appear in «
tlie hook in chronological order?
A. They do.
Q28. The first three photographs dated April
1st, 1900, which have been ottered m evidence and
to which you have referred, have the date April
1st, 1900 written thereon. Please state whether
that (late is correct for each of these three pho¬
tographs?
A. I believe it is correct.
2592 Q29. How did it come about that the dates
were put upon all of these photographs contained
in this book, excepting the thirteen which are
without dates?
A. The photographs taken at Orange were dated
in accordance with my instructions, and the first
thirteen photographs taken at the cement plant at
New Village, N. J. were received without being
dated. I then gave instructions to have all subse¬
quent photographs sent to us with the dates on.
Q30. .Were these photographs pnsted in the book
Deposition of Walter- S. Mallory. 805
all at once, or- what is tlio fnct-with-regard' to the 2503
pasting of the photographs- in the book?.-: ■ ■■■• ■
A. They -were posted -in the book from time to
time us fast as we received them, so that we might
have at all times a pictorial record of the progress
of -the construction of the plant.
Q31. Where were you during the time that you
wrote and received the letters which you have pro¬
duced, and some of which -you have quoted in
answer to Q2?
A. At that time 1 made my headquarters at the
JSdison laboratory', Orange, N. J.
: (232. And where was Mr. E; A. Darling during
the same time? " ' 2594
A: Tlie -early part of the period lie was also
located at1 the 'Edison laboratory,- Orange, N. Jq
O and I believe Mr. Darling was located- at the ce¬
ment plant at New Village, N. J,.the larger portion
bf his time after about June 1st, 1900.
: Q83. Did you preserve any of the clinker or
cement made- during the trials of tlie experimental
roaster at the laboratory ;• and if so, please produiie
and describe the1 same.-' •••!.* " 1
• A. I did. i-I' preserved some •clinker >in«ian<>eir-
voldpe- marked '.‘first dlinker made at Orange, July
15th, 1901’.”1 This clinker was kept in tlie envelope 260g
in "my desk1 n't O range; N. -J:: until quite recently
when- I'-’put-it in ii‘ glnssrhottlc to forward it ’ to
Mr; I-Iicks. <1 also preserved a sample' of tlie ('first
cen lent made from our rock and put- through the
roaster bit ' Orange”, °NA J. I- also preserved ri
briquette 1 made from 'the ' cement- which -was
ground from tlie first clinker made at Orange, N. J.
. -Q34;)-I understand -that tlie cement1 contained
0 in the bottle# produced :-by you'" which' : is; labeled
“first cement made from ‘ our duck^-and 'through
roaster at Orange” and “cement — 1st burning —
7-15-01” followed by an analysis of tlie ingrodi-
ouo imposition. or w aiter s. .unnory.
mils ami “test a days 2110 lbs.",' ami.. the .briquette
|ir<alm:eil by you labeled “made from- llrst elinker
made, at; Orange—' 7-1 B-.l .1101 ", and. “7-22-111— 200
lbs. 3 days'' were made from the elinker produced
at the time of the trial when the elinker labeled
“llrst elinker made, at .Orange, duly 15, 1001". was
made. Is this correct?...
A. Yes. ,
. Q35. In whose writing are the labels .on those
three specimens of elinker, cement and briquette;
and ’when, were the labels made? '
A. The writing on the envelope “first, elinker
made ut Orange, July 15, 1001" the label on thu
cement "first cement made from our rock and
through roaster, at Orange," N. J., and the label
on the briquette “made from first. clinker made nt
Orange 705-1001” are in my handwriting, and were #
made at the dates given. The label on tbe bottle con¬
taining the cement, “cement 1st burning 7-15-01”
giving nn analysis of the cement and also “test
8:dnys!2pp lbs.”, also the lead pencii marking on
the ..briquette, of “7-22-01 200 lbs. 3 . days,” , were
made as I recall by the chemist who made the
analysis und-conductcd the; physical tests; .The
physical test was undoubtedly made on July 22nd,
1901. and the chemical analyses were undoubtedly
made- immediately after July 15th, 1901. .... ,
Q86: Have you any information with roirnrd :t.o
Deposition of Walter S, Mallory.
80T
October 1.2th, 1912. 25
In reply to your letter of October 10th, the
following is a statement of the number of rotary
kilns reported to the survey used in ' the manu¬
facture of Portland cement m the Dnited States
from 1900 to 1911:
1900 1907 1908.1909.1910 1911
Under 101) ft. 580 501 545 555 ,418 357
100 ft. and over 257 344 389 375 482 559
Total:— 843 905 934 ' 930 900 910
Mn. Richmond: Objected to ns second-
ary nml incompetent.
Mr, I-Iioks: Complainants offer in evi¬
dence the clinker, cement, and briquette
produced by the witness, and the same are
marked us follows:
Complainants’ Exhibit, First clinker
made at Orange, July 15th, 1901;
Complainants’ Exhibit, First cement
made at Orange from New Village rock,
,,, July 15th, 1901; .
Complainants’ Exhibit, Briquette made
from Orst clinker made at Orange, July
15th, 1901. . 20
Adjourned to October 17th. 1912 nt in -an A \r
' Mot pursuant, to adjournment.
Ih'esemt : Parties as before.
WALTER S. MALLORY, resumes the stand.
Dinner examination continue ns jin. Hicks:
' Q37. At the time of the experimental work at
Orange or when the first, two ISO foot kilns were
installed at New Village, did yon learn anything
about the cement output and fuel consumption of
sixty foot kilns in use?
A., Yes.
Q38. Please state the source .of your, informa¬
tion, and what it was?
,A. 1 obtained the information from reading out
of pamphlets or’boo'ks on the subject of the manu¬
facture of cement, and also from, discussion with
some of they manufacturers. As 1 recall the out¬
put1 ranged froni 150, barrels', to 300 barrels in
t wenty-four hours, and '.tlie cVmi coiisui.njtHon from
l|j0 pounds to lot) pounds per barrel. .
Jin. Richmond : Objected to as secondary.
'>;Q3i).;\Vlien \vas 'the Edison Portland Cement
Gotiipfuiy' incorporated?
A. June 3rd, IS!)!), in the Stale of New Jersey,
r Q40, -While the experimental work: on tlie' kiln
was being carried on by Mr. Edison at bis labora¬
tory at West Orange, and up to tlie time that the
rotary part of the experimental kiln was shipped
from the laboratory to New Village in the Pall of
1001, wlmt was being done with regard to a cement
plant at New Village?
A, \Ye were getting out tlie detail plans and
erecting the buildings, and ordering tlie machinery
for various parts of the plant, such as rock crusher,
drier, stock houses, air separator bouses, roll
Deposition of Whiter S. Jfallory. 8(19
houses, and so forth, and also installing the neces- 2606
sary machinery in these particular houses.
Q41. With regard to the kiln itself, was any¬
thing done at New Village before the rotary part
of the experimental kiln wns shipped from the
laboratory?
A. No.
Q42. Can you give any statement as to the prox¬
imate cost of the making of the invention of tlie
Edison kiln upwards of 100 feet in length de¬
scribed in the patent in suit No. 802,031?
Mu. Richmond: Objected to as somewhat
vague and indefinite.
Jilt. Hicks: So is the objection. 2000
A. If you mean the cost of the kiln including
tlie work of development I would say that approx¬
imately it cost seventy-five to a hundred thousand
dollars.
Q43. is the experimental work at the laboratory
at West Orange included in the “work of develop¬
ment”?
Jin. Richmond: Same objection.
A. Yes.
Q44. Has there been, to your knowledge any ac¬
quiescence among manufacturers of Portland ce¬
ment in this country in the validity of the Edison
patent in suit No. 802631?
A. Yes. License agreements have been granted
by Mr. Edison to about a half a dozen of the larger
cement companies. The companies to which I
refer are the Atlas Portland Cement Company, the
Lehigh Portland Cement Company, American
Portland Cement Company, Vulcanite Portland
Cement Company, Alpha Portland Cement; Com¬
pany, Lawrence Portland Cement Company and
tlie Edison Portland Cement Company.
870 Deposition of Walter S. Mallory.
2008 Q45. Hag tlie price of cement fallen or rigen
since the Edison kilns upwards of 100 feet in
length went into general use?
A. It lias fallen.
Q46. Can you give any reason for the fall in the
market price of Portland cement since the Edison
long kiln went into general use?
A. The industry hus had a capacity during a
portion of that time to produce more cement than
the market demanded.
Q47. Do you mean that the cement producing
capacity of the country Ims increased?
A. Yes.
2000 Q48. And wluit had caused the increase of the
cement producing capacity?
A. Larger outputs from the kilns, and new
plants.
Q40. Why have the kilns produced a larger out¬
put?
A. Because there hus been a great increase in
the number of kilns in excess of 100 feet in length.
Mu. Hicks: Complainants oii'er in evi¬
dence an extract from Mineral ftesources
of the United States for 1911, and the same
is marked
Complainants’ Exhibit, Extract from
“Mineral Resources of the United States”,
for 1911, pp. 13 to 14, published 1912 by De¬
partment of the Interior, U. S. Geological
Survey.
Mb. Richmond : Objected to us secondary
and incomplete.
Mb. Hicks: Complainants’ Counsel has
not, it is true, offered the entire publication ;
because that seems unnecessary since the
material facts are set forth in the Extract
offered in evidence. The publication is one
for which Defendant’s Counsel hus, as
Deposition of Waller S. Mallory. 871
pointed out during the deposition of Pro- 2011
fessor Carpenter, vouched.
Mb. Richmond: The pointing out re¬
ferred to seems to have consisted in the al¬
legation by Complainants’ Counsel. The at¬
tention of the Court is directed to the evas¬
ive way in which the challenge to show
where uny such voucher appears was met
following RDQ504 of the Carpenter deposi¬
tion.
Direct Examination Closed.
Cboss examination by Mr. Richmond :
. XQ50. In your answer to Q2 you suggested
tliut two and one half million dollars would prob¬
ably be lost; was it lost?
A. It was.
XQ51. You say “it took up about five years sub¬
sequent to 1898 to pay” certain obligations in full.
To whom do you refer by .“us”?
A. Mr. Edison and myself, Mr. Edison advanc¬
ing the money and the negotiations with the credit¬
ors being conducted by myself.
XQ52. Were these payments charged directly
or indirectly against the cement business? ‘ u '
A. No.
XQ53. In what respect did you understand Mr.
Edison to mean that the sixty foot kiln was “rot-
A. Due to the figuring which he had done, he be¬
lieved that a device could be invented which would
be much more efficient in coal consumption and
with a larger output.
XQ54. Yes, but what did he think was “rotten”
about the sixty foot kiln?
Deposition of Wither S. Mallory.
Edison’s information tip to this time in regard to 3017
sixty foot kiln practice?
Jin. Hicks : Objected to as clearly in¬
competent, for the reason that the witness
can state only what lie observed in respect
to the subject matter of the question.
. Jin. Richmond: See the direct examina¬
tion; it. is submitted that this question is
a highly proper cross question, without
waiver of objection.
Jin. Hicks: If the question attempts to
obtain from the witness a statement of the
extent and nature of Jlr. Edison’s informa¬
tion, without being limited to the knowledge 2018
or observation of the witness, it is entirely
incompetent.
A. I can only answer in a general way by stat¬
ing that Jlr. Edison has a habit in all of his ex¬
perimental work of obtaining by reading and from
other sources, as much of the available informa¬
tion relating to the work he lias in hand as it is
practicable for him to get, and his work in con¬
nection with the cement plant was carriedout along
this line.
XQ60. That is as specific a statement as you
can make in answer to the question, is it? 2019
A. I can answer that by stating that I personally
obtained some books upon the manufacture of ce¬
ment, and that Jlr. Edison and I personally visited
one or two plants where sixty foot kilns were in¬
stalled, and as usual he asked many questions re¬
garding tlie operation of the device.
XQ61. What plants did you visit,. and when?
A. As I recall we visited the plant of the Bonne¬
ville Cement Company, and I think the other was
the Coplay, but I am not so sure about that.' I
2023
8T4 Deposition of Wnl tor S. Mallory.
2020 think it was iu 1898 during tlie period wlien the
work at tlie concentrating plant was discontinued
for the lack of money.
XQC2. How wuuy kilns were there at these
plants that you visited?
A. 1 don’t remember.
XQG3. JJlid Mr. Edison ever suggest that he con¬
sidered the sixty foot kiln to he “rotten” because
it was made of wrought iron?
A. He thought the use of cast iron would give
some mechanical advantages, because the cast iron
would not warp us much as the steel.
XQG4. Did he think that having only two carry-
2021. ing tires was a point against the sixty foot kiln?
Mn. Hicks: Objected to as calling for
the thought of Mr. Edison for the reasons
stated.
A. I have heurd him say that he believed it
would be an advantage to have the kiln supported
in more than two places, if made of cast iron.
XQG5. But you do not recall his saying or sug¬
gesting that having only two tires was a point
against tlvsj. sixty foot kiln?
A. No. '
XQGG. Have you any picture or pictures of
21122 the wooden model 8 feet in diameter and 10 feet
long which you started building in March 1899?
. A. No.
XQG7. You spoke of the laboratory kiln as
being “so radically different from the existing
kilns in general use” ; did these radical differences
comprise making the kiln of cast iron instead of
Wrought, iron, having ten sets of carrying rolls
.instead of two, having a brick chamber with pad¬
dles at the upper end, having a fluted lining in
the kiln, and having a novel form of coal injector
burner?
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory. 875
A. Yes.
XQG8. Just what was the matter that you en¬
gaged Mr. L.-H. DeVoe to investigate?
A. .We wanted to learn the character of the fire
brick used in the sixty foot kiln, by whom they
were manufactured, the experience of the cement
manufacturers as to the life of the fire brick, and
whether or not we could obtain the corrugated fire
brick.
(Defendant’s Counsel obtains from the
witness the letter which Sir. DeVoe wrote,
dated January 3rd, 1900.)
XQG9. The letter of Mr. DeVoe dated January 2024
3rd, 1900 which you handed to me for inspection,
in tlie course of your- long answer to Q2 contains
the following paragraph, does it not:
“I would like to say, however, that never
before have I had so tough a proposition in
placing an order, for the manufacturers did
not seem capable of handling new work and
did not care to accept”.
A. Yes, the letter contains such a paragraph and
refers to the corrugated fire brick.
XQ70. Did you use any grinding machinery in
connection with your experiments at the labora- 2025
tory, and if so, please state briefly what it was?
A. We had a set of rolls and one air separator,
so that we could prepare the raw material for
use in the experimental kiln.
XQ71. How about grinding the coal and the
clinker.
A. Tlie raw material, coal and clinker was all
ground in these rolls and separated by tlie air
separator.
XQ72. Were they giant rolls?
A. No, they were small rolls.
87« Deposition of Walter S. Mallory.
2620 XQ73, Did yon use a clinker cooler in connection
with the experiments at the laboratory?
A. I don’t think we did.
XQ74. What are the initials of Mr. Streckel
and where is he now?
A. I don’t remember ids initials and have no
knowledge as to his present whereabouts.
XQ75. In your letter of July 16th, 1901 to Mr.
Darling, you referred to a party who "got the
burner so very hot that one of the large castings
cracked”; what did you refer to here by the term
“burner”?
A. I referred to the operator whom he sent us
2627 to conduct the kiln experiment.
XQ76. But you said “he got the burner so very
hot”. What was it that became hot?
A. I should have said in my letter it was the
kiln which became very hot.
XQ77. Then the large casting thut cracked was
one of the cast iron kiln sections, was it?
A. Yes, but you note that I state in my letter
that there was a defect in the casting which prob¬
ably accounts for the trouble.
XQ78. And the bands that you were putting on
were to encircle the kiln and ' bind the parts of
the casting together, were they?
2028 A. Yes, we put bands on the cracked section to
prevent further cracking when it was under heat.
XQ79. What did yon refer to in that same let¬
ter by the term “feeding device”; did you mean
the coal injector nozzle?
A. Yes.
XQ80.. Are you still sure of your estimate of
July 10th, 1901 or earlier, that fifty pounds of
coal per barrel of cement is conservative?
A. No, we underestimated the amount of coal
necessary at, that time.
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory. 877
XQ81. In that same letter you said “the . front 2629
und of the burner chilled”; just what was it that
was chilled.
•A. I should have stated the front end of the kiln
> chilled.
XQS2, Do you mean that the front end of the
i kiln was watur-jacketed, or something of 'that sort?
A. Thu front end of the kiln was not water-
jacketed. Wlmt I meant was we were unable to
- hold the heat in the front, end of the kiln.
XQ83. How long did you continue feeding in
■ fourteen tons of cement rock per hour?
A. I don’t remember.
XQ84. Who were Messrs. Pilling & Crane to 2630
whom the letter of July 19th, 1901 was addressed.
A. Mr. W. S. Pilling urns treasurer of the
cement company, and both Pilling and Crane were
stockholders and directors' of tlie cement company.
XQ85. What do you refer to by the term “guns”
in this same letter?
A. A device for feeding the coal.
XQ80. For injecting it into the kiln?
A. Yes.
XQ87. How many of them were there?
A. I think at that 'time there was one device
■having two’ feeding nozzles.
XQ88. This made two guns, did it? 2061
A. Practically one gun with two nozzles.
XQ89. Did the cablegram mentioned in the let¬
ter of ’July 24tli, 1901 relate in any way to the
cement business, and if so, what was it?
A. I do not recollect wlmt it was, but doubt
very much that it referred to the cement business.
XQ90. Please give the initials of the Mr. Reid
referred to in your letter of August 9, 1901, his
address then and now, arid whether he continued
to :be “well impressed.”
A. W. P. Reid. I think his home is in Babylon,
878 Deposition of Walter S. Mallory.
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory. 870
2032 Long Island, and lie is still a stockholder and di¬
rector.
XQ01. Was he ever dissatisfied after that letter?
A. I: never heard him express any dissatisfaction
with the kiln, and I assume that what I had in
mind when the letter was written was Mr. Reid’s
impression of the kiln experiments which we had
conducted at Orange, N. J.
XQ92. Yon say yon have never heard him ex¬
press any dissatisfaction. Have yon known of Ilia
expressing any dissatisfaction?
A. Not in connection witli the kiln. All our
director have expressed great dissatisfaction from
2038 time to time as to the price at which we have hud
to sell cement, and I have hoard Mr. Reid express
his opinion along this line several times.
XQ93. You spoke of Mr. Edison being very
much disappointed when you would report to him
that you had obtained an output of from 450 to
550 barrels per day; when was this?
A. When we first started the preliminary manu¬
facturing operations at. the cement plant at New
Village, N. J.
XQ94. When was that?
A. I think it was the early part of 1903.
XQ95. Then you said that as you had more ex-
2084 perience with the operation of the kiln you were
enabled to get the outputs up to 700 and 800 bar¬
rels per day; when was this?
A. As near as I can remember now I think it
was during 1904 or possibly 1905.
XQ.96. Then you said that, finally after a good
many trials yon were enabled to obtain an output
of 1000 barrels in twenty-four hours; when wns
this?
A. I think it was in 1905.
XQ97. Wouldn’t your records show exactly when
these'flgnrcs were attained?
A. I think so.
XQ98. Then I will ask you before this examina¬
tion closes to produce your original record or rec¬
ords, showing the date and circumstances of your
obtaining an output of from 450 to 550 barrels,
then 700 to 800 barrels, and finally 1000 barrels?
A. T am not so sure as that we have the records
of our earlier work, but I can find those of the
later period.
XQ99. I understand that you did not get your
plant in regular commercial operation until 1903,
is that correct?
A. My recollection is that we started our plant
in operation either in December 1002 or January
1903, and it was continued in operation until
March 1003, when we lmd a coal explosion which
caused us to discontinue manufacturing operations
for several months.
XQ100. Were your operations fairly normal
throughout the calendar year 1904?
Mil. Hioks: Objected to ns not proper
cross examination. The direct examination
touched upon no such matter.
A. I really don’t remember how much of that
year we did operate it.
XQ101. I understand that you started with two
kilns, please give us the dates when the other kilns
were added?
Mb. Hicks: Same objection, and if it con¬
tinues the witness will be advised not to
answer, unless instructed to do so by the
Court.
A. As I recall we put in kilns 3 and 4, hut I do
not now recollect just the dates. Subsequently we
put in six additional kilns, I think this wus doue
iii 190G. When I refer to 1906 I mean in relation
to the six additional kilns.
880
Deposition of- Walter S. Mallory.
XQ102. In connection with your answer to
XQ95, please tell us what was the regular normal
output of your. kiln day by day in each .of the years
1904 and 1905?
Jilt. Micks : Same objection. The witness
is advised not to answer such questions un¬
less directed so to do by the Court. The
witness lias not been interrogated with re¬
gard to tile operation of the New Villuge
plant, nor 1ms the witness at any time op¬
erated the New Village plant; nor does it
appear that the witness lias any knowledge
which would enable him to answer such
questions. He was not produced and inter¬
rogated with regard to such matters.
A. On advice of counsel I decline to auswer un¬
less directed so to do by the Court.
XQ103. The records of your company are under
your control and accessible to you, are they not?
2840
XQ104. I will state frankly what I want to get
at, and ask you to help me out. Ill your direct ex¬
amination you told about getting outputs of 450
to 550 barrels, then later .700 and 800 barrels .per
day, and Anally 1000 barrels in twenty-four hours.
This was toward the end of your long answer to
Q2. It seems to. me that normal,, everyday, average
outputs would be much more instructive and sig¬
nificant, and would have a decided bearing on wlmt
is to be learned from these extreme outputs you
have stated. Also, you have referred to making
cement at the laboratory witli 50 pounds of coal
per barrel, but it seems to me that the normal,
average, everyday coal consumption is much more
important and significant. I will therefore ask
you before tills examination closes to produce your
records for the years 1903 and il904, and show us
wlmt was the number of kilns in operation, in those
Icposition of Walter S. Mallory.
years, the number of days they were in operation,
the total output of cement, and the total weight of
fuel burned in the kiln so that the data for which
1 inquire can be deduced accurately from primary
evidence.
Jilt. Hicks: As none of this matter lias
any basis in the direct exumination.and is a
mere fishing expedition on the part of De¬
fendant’s Counsel Complainants’ Counsel
will object to any sucli procedure. The pres¬
ent question is objected to as it does not
ask the witness for any fact, but merely asks
him as to what he will do in the future, and
that is not a subject matter of testimony.
A. I will be guided by advice of counsel in this
matter.
Recess.
( After Recess)
XQ105. You speak of being enabled to get the
larger outputs of 709 and 800 barrels per day “as
we had more experience”. Please state the nature
of this increased experience?
A. Our operators consisting both of our super¬
intendent, foreman, and the men in direct charge
of the kilns, due to their experience, were enabled
to better understand the capacities of the kiln, and
also to manipulate better the coal feeding and raw
material devices, and also understood better the
manipulation of the draft.
XQ106. Who were your superintendent and fore¬
man and men in direct charge of the kiln?
Mu. Hicks: Objected to as not proper
cross examination. Such questions can have
no hearing on the direct examination.
882 Deposition of Waller S. Mallory.
A. Mr. Darling was pur first superintendent,
and subsequent to his death in 1903 Mr. Mason
became our superintendent. We have had several
foremen in charge of the kiln department. I can¬
not recall their names as they were hired and dis¬
charged by Mr. Mason.
XQ'107. Who is Mr. Emil 'Harter whose hand¬
writing you identified in answer to Q1.G?
A. He is a draftsman who lias been in Mr.
Edison’s employ for nearly twenty years.
XQ108. Referring to the book of photographs
that you had under consideration in connection
with Q23, how many photographs are there in
this book, and how many of them show the rotary
kiln or models thereof?
Mb. Hicks: If Defendant’s Counsel
wants to know how many photographs
there are in that book lie can count them.
The book is at his disposal. Defendant’s
Counsel can cross examine' the witness in
regard to any of the photographs that are
in evidence. The witness is advised he
should not do such work , unless , directed
so to do by the Court. The depositions of
Dr. Kiefer and Professor Carpenter were
prolonged by just such methods.
Mu. Richmond: See Q24.
A. I am advised by counsel not to count the
photographs until directed so to do by the Court.
XQ109. Do you decline to comply with the re¬
quest in XQ108?
A. I am perfectly willing to do so if directed
by my Counsel or the Court.
XQ110. You will understand that I must press
my question until you either reply to it or de¬
cline to do so; I respectfully ask again if you
will kindly, make the count requested, or if you
decline to do so?
88+
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory.
2050 merciul operation at the New Village, N. J. plant,
which I have already testified to as being about
1003. It covers all the experimental and testing
work during that period.
XQ115. Does it include Mr. DeVoe’s expenses
in hunting for brick?
A. It probably does.
XQ110. And all the expense on coal injectors?
A. Yes.
XQ117. And for machinery and labor in grind¬
ing raw materials, clinker and coal during this
period?
A. It probably does.
2051 XQ118. Does it include all expenses for opera¬
tions at the laboratory that were connected with
the projected plant at New Village?
A. No.
XQ119. Please state in outline wlint is your
basis for your estimate of seventy-five to a hun¬
dred thousand dollars, and mention n few of the
larger items of cost entering this estimate?
A. The cost includes the erection of the experi¬
mental kiln with the driving machinery, the prep¬
arations of the raw materials at the various tests,
the work in connection with the model, wages of
all experimenters, the costs of nil materials used
2052 in connection with the tests, and ns I recall a pro¬
portion of the general expense of the laboratory
which is always added to the cost, of Mr. Edison’s
experiments. In addition were the costs dnring the
preliminary operating tests after the kiln was
erected at New Village, N. J.
XQ120. I realize that your seventy-five or one
hundred thousand dollars estimate is only an esti¬
mate, but I wish you would, before this examina¬
tion closes, produce an orgiual record or records,
showing the larger items of this expense, and if
possible enough of these items to aggregate half
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory. 885
or two-thirds of your estimate so that we can get 2053
an approximate idea of how this expense was
distributed. Will you kindly do so?
Mu. Hicks: Objected to as not proper
cross examination. The witness has testi¬
fied according to his own recollection and
nut from any books or memoranda. Defend¬
ant’s Counsel can cross examine the witness
to any extent concerning wlmt the witness
has stated from his own recollection. The
course pursued by defendant’s Counsel
would result in the production of nil the
books and records of any person or company
that defendant’s Counsel might chose to
mention, none of which have been in any
way referred to on the direct examination.
This is not proper cross examination and
it is objected to.
A. I decline to do so until udvised by counsel.
XQ121. To whom and when was the first li¬
cense under the patent in suit granted?
A. To the Edison Portland Cement Company.
1 don’t remember the date.
XQ122. Please look at Complainants’ Exhibit,
Copy Edison — Edison Company License Agree¬
ment, August 31st, 1899, and say if this is a copy 2065
of the license just referred to?
Mn. Hicks: Objected to upon the ground
that the exhibit speaks for itself, and that
it is not for the witness to construe the
Mn. Richmond: He is not asked for a
construction, hut for an identification.
. Mu. Hicks: There is no identification
called for by the question. But the ques¬
tion in effect asks the witness to construe a
Deposition of Wul ter S. Mallory. 887
sons in the same class witli yourselves associated 2650
with you in this work, and if so, please give their
names?
Mb. Hioks: The statement preceding the
question is objected to as incorrect, except
ns to Mr. Edison.
A. As I linve already stated Mr. William Simp¬
kins was chief draftsman, located at Mr. Edison’s
laboratory at Orange, N. J. and Mr. Emil Qerter
were both active in this work. This covers the
principal men.
XQ128. Please outline very briefly the previous
experience of Mr. Simpkins and Mr. Herter? 2660
Mb Hioks: Objected to as immaterial.
A. Mr. Simpkins ; was an engineer and drafts¬
man of considerable experience and just before he
came to Mr. Edison was employed as I recall by
the Heading Iron Works at Reading, Pa. I do
not remember his previous employers. Mr. Herter
had been associated with Sir. Edison through the
larger part of an iron ore concentrating work to
which I have already referred, covering a period
of six or seven years prior to the time the cement
work was started.
XQ129, Your letter of July 15th, 1902 refers to 2661
“our small rotary kiln”. What was that?
A. That refers to a small kiln, as I recall, about
four feet in diameter and approximately twenty
feet long which we built to try and nodulize iron
XQ130. Has the Edison Portland Cement Com¬
pany paid dividends on its capital stock, and if
so, when was the first dividend?
SIb. Hioks: Objected to as not proper
cross examination, and whatever the facts
2602
S88 Deposition «f Waller S. Mallory.
may be, of 'which complainants’ Counsel has
no knowledge, the witness is advised he
should not answer such a question unless
directed so to do by the Court. This ques¬
tion is in line with the preceding question
calling tor records in no way referred to
on the direct examination.
A. 1 decline to answer the question until di¬
rected to do so by the Court.
XQ131. I now direct your attention XQ98, and
ask you if you will kindly produce the records,
there inquired for?
Ma. Hioks: Same objections.
A. I repeat the former answer that on advice
of counsel X decline to produce any records unless
directed to do so hy the Court.
XQ132. Then do I understand that you decline
to comply with the requests in XQs 98, 102, 104,
120, and 130?
A. Yes, unless so directed by Counsel or the
order of the Court.
Mn. Richmond : Counsel for Defendant
respectfully, but emphatically protests
against the refusal of the witness to assist
in giving the Court the information inquired
for in the cross questions enumerated in
XQ132, and also protests against the ad¬
vice given by Counsel for Complainants to
the witness in connection with these cross
questions.
Mn. Hicks : . Complainants’ Counsel is
perfectly willing that the witness should
produce any record and should answer any
question that is a proper question, or that
the Court may direct the witness to produce
or to answer. The witness has not, how¬
ever, testified on his direct exnminatiotf'in
reference to any of the records called for
Deposition of Waller S. Mallory. 881)
or with reference to any of the matters 2005
touched upon in the questions which the wit¬
ness has refused to answer unless directed so
to do by the Court. It is not thought that
Defendant’s Counsel should have entered
upon any of these matters.
Mb. Richmond : Counsel for ..Defendant
believes the cross questions enumerated in
XQ132 were proper and should have been
answered. As to this, the record shows what
it shows, and Counsel for Defendant will
not, at this time, attempt to state what ft
shows.
Cnoss Examination Closed. 2060
Re-dibeot examination iiy Mb. Hicks:
RDQ133. If any of the records which Defend¬
ant’s Counsel lias asked you to produce, and which
you have declined to produce unless instructed
so to do by the Court, are in existence, are any of
them here in the City of New York?
A. No.
RDQ134. Referring to Q39 in answer to which
you said that the Edison Portland Cement Com¬
pany was incorporated on June 3, 1899, did you
have personal knowledge of the incorporation and 2607
organization of that company?
A. I did.
RDQ135. In answer to XQ67 you agreed that
the laboratory kiln which you had described in
the letter ns being “so radically different from the
existing kilns in general use” comprised certain
features mentioned in the question. Please state
whether that laboratory kiln comprised in addi¬
tion to the features mentioned in that question a
. rotary part 100 feet in length and a brick exten¬
sion chamber fifty feet in length?
8!)0 Disposition or Will ter S. Alnllory.
2068 Mn. Richmond : Objected to as leading.
Mil. Hicks: XQG7 is so very well framed
that tbe preceding question is thought
proper.
A. Yes.
KDQ136. Referring to your answer to Q2, and
especially to tlmt part thereof where you speak
of your reports to Air. Edison with regard to the
iirst output of the New Village kiln and of what
he said, and of what was thereafter attempted,
and of what was the result of the many trials
made, did you testify in regard to these matters
from your present recollection, or from reference
2669 to any record or records produced by you?
A. Prom my present recollection.
Re-diuect Examination Closed.
Deposition Closed.
WALTER S. MALLORY.
Adjourned to October 18th, 1912, at il :00 A. Ah
New York, October 18th, 1912.
Met pursuant to adjournment.
2670 Present : Parties us before.
WALTER S. MALLORY, recalled for further
re-direct examination, testified as follows:
RDQ137. Have you refreshed your recollection
since the close of the session yesterday afternoon
so that you can give definitely the capacity shown
by actual outputs of the Edison 150 foot kilns
during the years 1903, 1904, and 1905?
Mr. < Richmond : Objected to. If it is
the desire of Counsel to recede from the
position taken’ when lie’ advised ’ this Wit-
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory. 891
ness not to respond to cross questions along 2071
this line, then he should state his change
of position and tender the witness for
further cross examination.
Ain. Hicks : Complainant’s Counsel at no
time advised the witness not to respond to
cross questions along this line. The state¬
ment of Defendant’s Counsel in this respect
is entirely incorrect. On the contrary Com¬
plainants’ Counsel stated that the witness
had testified from his own recollection and
that it was open to Defendant’s Counsel to
cross examine the witness to any extent
withti'cgnrd to the statements made by the 2672
witness from the recollection of the wit¬
ness. The witness not having been exam¬
ined with reference to the books or rec¬
ords called for by Defendant’s Counsel,
and the witness not having used such books
or records, Complainants’ Counsel ud-
vised the witness that he should not pro¬
duce the books or records called for un¬
less directed so to do by the Court. The
position of Complainants’ Counsel is that
Complainants are entitled to a ruling of
the Court upon an attempt to make a
fishing expedition into the books and .rec- 2678
ords of the company that is not a party
to this suit, and the books and records of
which have not in any way been referred
to by the witness. In the objection to
XQ120 Complainants’ Counsel said “De¬
fendant’s Counsel can cross examine the
witness to any extent concerning what the
witness lias stated from his on recollection.
The course pursued by defendant’s Coun¬
sel would result in the production of all
the books and records of any person or
l!
892 Deposition of Walter S. Mallory.
2674 company tlmt Defendant’s Counsel might
chose to mention, none of which have been
in any way referred to on the direct exam¬
ination.”
Mb, Richmond: Believing that the rec¬
ord shows the situation, Defendant’s Coun¬
sel will not enter upon a labored attempt
to explain or repeat what it shows. As to
the offensive imputations in the foregoing
remarks, Counsel for Defendant is unable
to compete.
Mb. Hicks: Complainants’ Counsel de¬
sires to add that there may be several corn-
2675 petent ways of proving a fact; one of them
is by the testimony of a witness having
knowledge of the fact; another is by the
production of records proved by a witness
having knowledge of the facts and of the
correctness of the records. Complainants’
Counsel is able to prove the facts in the
first manner, and 1ms made no attempt to
prove tlie facts in the second manner.
A. I have.
11DQ138. Please state then the capacity shown
by actual outputs of the Edison 150 foot kilns dur-
ing the years 1903, 1904, and 1905.
'2fl70 A. On December 1st, 1903 kiln No. 2 produced
768 barrels of clinker. On August 31st, 1904,
kiln No. 3 produced 792 barrels of clinker and on
October 4th, 1905, kiln No. 1 produced 1129 bar¬
rels of clinker.
RDQ139. Have you refreshed your recollection,
and can you state any more definitely the cost of
tlie experiments, constructions, and so forth lead¬
ing up to . and including the installation of tlie
150 foot Edison kiln No. 1 at New Village?
Mb. Richmond: Same objection.
Mb. Hicks: Same reply.
Deposition of Walter S. Mallory. 893
A. I have. The total amount expended for ex- 2077
pertinents and plans was about §1GG,000 of which
$133,000 wus expended up to 1904, so I believe that
my estimate of seventy-five to one hundred thou¬
sand dollars is conservative for the reason that
the other mechanical devices used in the cement
plant were largely developed during the period of
the concentrating work to which I have already
referred.
Rb-Dibect Examination Closed.
Rb-cboss Examination by Mb. Richmond:
RXQ14tf. By what means did you refresh your
recollection?
A. By conversing with one of our men, by tele¬
phone.
RXQ141. Who?
A. Mr. A. H. Moses.
RXQ142. Please explain how he is in a position
to know these matters?
A. He obtained the information from our rec¬
ords.
RXQ143. Was this the only means by which you
refreshed your recollection on the matters of your
examination this morning? -2379
A. Yes.
RXQ144. Who is Mr. Moses, what is his position
in relation to your company?
Mb. Hicks : Objected to as immaterial and
not proper cross examination. The witness
has testified ns to all these matters from
, his own recollection and anything that Mr.
Moses may be can have no bearing whatso¬
ever upon the testimony of the witness given
from his recollection.
Evidence.
894
A. He is one of the men in our accounting de¬
partment.
Mb. Richmond : In view of the fore¬
going cross examination, the questions and
answers 137 to 139 inclusive are objected to
us secondary and incompetent.
Rb-Cuoss Examination Closed.
Kb-diukct examination 11V iMlt. Hunts:
RDQ145. Please state whether your answers to
RDQs 138 and 139 are bused upon your present
recollection?
Mb. Richmond: Objected to as leading.
A. Yes.
Re-I)ibect Examination Closed.
Deposition Closed.
900 Deposit ion of Emil Hertci*.
EMIL HERTER, a witness being duly sworn
on behalf of the complainants, testifies as follows:
Direct examination iiv Mr. Hicks:
Ql. Plense state your name, age, residence and
occupation?
A. Emil Hertcr, age, 52; residence, Orange,
N. J., occupation, mechanical Engineer.
2700 Q2. Have you been in the employ of Mr.
Thomas A. Edison ; and if so, how long?
A. Since 1888, about twenty-four years.
Q3. Please state fully, and in your own way,
what connection, if any, you had with regard to
Mr. Edison’s work resulting in the Edison 1B0
foot kiln No. 1 that was eventually installed in
the New Village plant?
A. In January 1899 Mr. Edison gave me some
sketches of a kiln that be wanted me to lay out.
for him. I made paper drawings of this kiln ac-
Deposition of Emil Fierier. 001
cording to his sketches and his ideas, as he 2701
would come in my room probably four or five
times during the day and we would talk over
tlie matter about the kiln, and what was the best
way to make the kiln according to his sketches.
Also, some time in March, 1899 I made a draw¬
ing of a section of a kiln which was 8 feet out¬
side diumeter, 10 feet long, showing corrugated
fire brick on the inside having a diameter of about
six feet. 1 also had charge of making a life size
model of this section. This section was mounted
on four wooden wheels which were four feet in
diameter and on an incline. This was made so
that we could revolve the same and see what 2702
was the rate of progression of the crushed stone
which we tried — how much it would advance a
revolution in a horizontal line. The idea of the
corrugated bricks was to carry the materiul
further up on its side than if the cylinder had
been plain or smooth on the inside. We also,
after trying the crushed stone that we had,
bought clinker, as our stone, having sharp cor¬
ners, seemed to hang to the side of the cylinder
on the inside, and would not roll or travel as
far as we afterwards found out with the burned
clinker that was bought from the Lehigh Portland
Cement Company. This clinker, to the best of my 27()a
recollection, was bought in June, 1899. After we
had tested this full size section we then made some
more drawings changing the inclination of the
cylinder, also changing the wheels, changing the
corrugated brick on the inside which were made
out of wood, to see what were the best results
that could be obtained. After this section had
been tested in this manner, off and on for about
two months or so, I then started on another
kiln model section in which we had bricks, the
corrugations of which were staggered. In the
Deposition of Emil Hertcr.
992
270-t lii'st model section the corrugations ran the
whole length of the ten feet. In the second sec¬
tion the corrugations would run about twelve
inches, then the other oue would come in twelve
inches long, then the third row of corrugations
would line up with the corrugations in the first
row, in the fourth row thu corrugation 'would
line up with the second row and so on through¬
out the suction which was ton feet long. This
model section did not prove as good as the first,
one. The crushed stone and also the canker which
was tried would not as readily travel forward
as in the first section. That was all the experi-
2705 meats that were made with these sections. After¬
wards, in June I started to lay out a general
plan of the present Edison Portland Cement
Company’s plant, at New Village, making draw- ^
ings of the buildings, necessary machinery, in¬
cluding rolls, driers, conveyers, grinding rolls,
blowing apparatus, conveyors of different types,
ns bulk conveyers, sernper conveyers, flight con¬
veyers, elevators, and so forth; also drawings
for the kilns, kiln house, stock houses, engine
houses and boiler houses. The kiln, the 100 foot
kiln drawings which I started in January of
1890 were revised, and with the data that was
3700 deducted from these experiments new drawings
for the 100 foot kiln rotating part, and the fifty
foot stationary part, were then made. From these
drawings we built a model, two inches to the
foot, of the plant ns it, would be erected, at New
Village. This model was started some time after
the 1st of July 1899. This model was built of
wood in a building erected purposely for this
purpose. The model consisted of giant rolls, 36
inch rolls, grinding rolls, blowing apparatus and 4
conveyers, also the nccessnry line shafting,, show¬
ing foundations, pulleys, and so forth. A model
of Emil Hurt
Deposition
for tlie kiln was completed about the latter part
of October 1899. Under direction from Mr. Mal¬
lory, I had taken, from time to time, photographs
of the model as completed, also dating them as
1 took them. The kiln proper which was erected
at the laboratory of Thomns A. Edison at West
Orange, N. J., — these drawings for the different
sections thereof were about completed at the
same time that we had our model finished, and
the sections were ordered from the Wheeler Engi¬
neering Company, Carteret, N. J. and were re¬
ceived at the laboratory some time- in February,
1900. We had, in the meantime, prepared the
foundation to erect this . roaster on it, which
was done by Mr. Doxhcimcr & Son of Orange,
N. J. some time after February 1900. To the best
of my recollection, the kiln sections were about
all on their friction wheels or bearings by April
of 1900. The other necessary machinery, includ¬
ing gears, bearings, and stands for driving or
rotating the- roaster, were not received until some
two months later. The stationary part of the
kiln which was of brick and contained paddles
for moving forward the raw material or chalk,
as we called it, was not completed until about
May of 1901. I recall some trouble that we had
in trying to rotate the revolving part of the kiln,
that was 100 feet long and consisted of nine
sections, ten feet long, and two sections five
feet long. But in not having the friction wheels
in perfect line with the axis of the cylindrical
shell, the cylinder or roaster as we called it tried
and did walk up hill, or in other words, the dis¬
charge end being some four feet lower than the
feeding end, it tried to walk up hill, away from
the thrust wheel which was put in at about half
its length to keep the kiln from going down hill
when rotating. This alignment of- the friction
1)04 Deposition of Emil Herter,
2710 wheels not all being in the same line was wlmt
caused the kiln to walk up hill. The kiln was
bred up or started some time in the latter part of
June 1001, und, on account of our coal burner,
we hud a lot of trouble to heat the kiln up prop¬
erly, our coal gun which we lmd designed not
working properly, und not being able to control
its movements euused us a lot of trouble, not be¬
ing able to get the proper heat to produce clinkur
that would make good cement. We did produce
some good clinker some time in July 19U1. We
also experienced u lot of trouble with the sta¬
tionary part of the kiln in which were con-
2711 tuiued the paddles for feeding in the raw ma¬
terial or chalk to the revolving kiln. These
paddles would stick, break oil', due to the heat,
the shafts would freeze fust to the bearings on
account of the high heat, causing us to shut
down, make changes, repair them, and start up
again to sue if the kiln, as it wus, would make
good clinker. VVe also had trouble with one of
the sections cracking longitudinally from the lieut,
due to a ilaw that we found wus in this casting.
This kiln wus finally taken down, after the ex¬
periments which Mr. Edison had conducted, some
time in October, 1901 and then shipped up to the
2712 Edison Portland Cement Company’s plant at
-New Village, N. J. To the best of my recollec¬
tion, from the trouble that we hud with the
stationary part of the 150 foot kiln as erected at
the laboratory of Thomas A. Edison at West
Orange, N. J., Mr. Edison decided to make the
kiln of fourteen sections, ten feet long, and two
sections five feet long, making a total length of
•150 feet for the revolving or rotary kiln, and it
wus so erected at the cement plant, the necessary
extra five sections were added, und also the
■ cracked section was replaced by u new one. Mr.
Deposition of Emil Harter. 005
Edison's ideu, of making the kiln of eust iron 2713
sections as against steel of the present kilns then
in use, was that it was a better manufacturing
proposition, as against a kiln made of steel sixty
feet long as then in present use in 1899. The
idea of the numerous number1 of friction wheels,
supporting the kiln, was to reduce the bearing
pressures on the shafts of the friction wheels, ns
against a kiln sixty feet long having only two
points of support, in which Mr. Edison from his
knowledge wus quite right. This accounts for the
Edison kiln and his original sketch or sketches
showing the kiln made of sections. In July 1899
Mr. Darling, who was then a mechanical engi- 27^
neer, for the Columbia University at New York
City, was employed as chief engineer and was
t chief engineer and superintendent of the plant
at New Village until the time of his death in
March, 1903, which was caused through the coal
explosion that occurred at the plant March 2nd,
1903. Tlie 100 foot kiln, with its additional sec¬
tions, was erected at the New Village plant, and
also No. 2 kiln, some time before October of
1902. I remember well receiving a telegram from
Mr. Darling to come to the cement plant at once.
This was in about the middle of August" 1902.
When I arrived at the cement plant they had just 0_. ^
about started the crusher plant in operation in “
order to test it out and see if it was up to Mr.
Edison’s expectations, as lie was at the plant
looking after the starting up of the machinery
to see that everything worked in proper order.
From tlie crushing plant the material was run
to the stock house so that- we could make the
proper chalk for testing the roaster which lmd
• not yet at that time been started up. No. I
roaster was started up for its first test at the
cement plant about the middle of October 1902.
90(i Deposition of Emil Herter.
2710 1 well recall Mils first test made of the roaster
at the Plant at New Village. We started the
roaster Monday morning and continued the run
until Tuesday morning, working in our clothes
just ns we came from Orange, and we looked like
a set of niggers when we got through with this
first experiment. The roaster and the burner that
they lmd, also the coal guns, gnvo no end of
trouble when the test was first made at New
Village, being entirely different from the test at
Orange which was made in July 1901, which was
no doubt due to the added length of the kiln of
the extra fifty feet.
2717 BY AGREEMENT of Counsel the depo¬
sition of Mr. Herter is suspended to take
the deposition of Mr. Miner.
EMIL HERTER, resumes the stand for further
direct examination.
Q4. In your answer to Q2 you said that in
January 1899 Mr. Edison gave you some sketches
of a kiln that- he wanted you to lay out for him.
Have you those sketches here?
A. Yes sir.
2718 QB- Are these the sketches that you refer to?
A. Yes sir.
Qli. How many sketches are there?
Mr. Richmond: This question and this
line of questions are objected to as calling
for secondary and incompetent testimony.
A. There are nine sketches.
Q7. Who has produced these nine sketches?
Q8. Please review these nine sketches and state,
if you know, in whose drawing and handwriting
the sketches are and what they respectively show,
Deposition of Emil Herter. 907
referring to the sketches as numbers 1 to 9 in 2719
the order in which they now are?
A. Sketch No. 1 shows a hand sketch by Mr.
Edison of two kilns sixty feet in length, making
a total length of approximately 120 feet. The
lower half of the sketch is marked “CO, lined with
shaped brick 0 thick.” The upper half lined with
single fire brick, the diameter outside 7 feet,
five sections are in Mr. Edison’s handwriting.
Flange 2y, inches thick, 5 incites, also 3 feet, 20
feet, stack five feet inside of lining are in my
handwriting. The figures in my handwriting were
made in January of 1899 and, no doubt the same
time that Mr. Edison gave me these sketches and 2720
explained to me what lie wanted.
Sketch No. 2 shows a kiln 120 feet and appar¬
ently the 30 foot stationary section, also a cross
section of a thirty foot section, which are in Mr.
Edison’s handwriting. The lower sketch in the
left hand corner shows a sketch for a cooler, 25
feet long, 30 inches inside diameter, 4 t/3 inches
of fire brick and the discharge end of the roaster.
No. 3 shows a sketch of a discharge end show¬
ing how the clinker would come out of the bot¬
tom, also the part of the coal feeding apparatus,
No. 4 shows the side view of the upper end or
feeding end of the raw material, showing a screw 2721
in the brick chamber, showing a cross section,
showing tlie side of this chamber inclined down
to the screw, showing also a pulley on the end of
the screw and a hopper or box for feeding in or
supplying the raw material.
No. 5 shows a sketch in Mr. Edison’s hand¬
writing 30 feet scratched out, changed to about
25 feet, another section 25 feet, another section 50.
feet in Mr. Herter’s handwriting, the first section
has 12 wrote into it intended to mean twelve inch
908. Deposition of Emil Herter.
2722, fli'e brick. . The second section 25 feet, 6 inch fire
brick, the third section D/o inch fire brick. This
sketch was changed from Mr. Edison's original
sketch, the first 30 foot section changed to 25 feet,
the second section 25 feet, third section 50 feet
are in Mr. Holder's handwriting, and is marked,
changed 130 feet long, 3-21-99. The change was
made March 21st 1899 by Mr. Edison’s directions
iuid these changes in the figures are in my hand¬
writing.
Q9. On this sketch No. 5 appears this nota¬
tion, “change— 130 ft, long. 3-21-99”. In whose
handwriting is this notation, and on what date
2723 WaS U ma<ie?
A. This is in my handwriting and was made on
March 21st, 1899.
Q10. Please continue your description of the
sketches.
A. Tlie lower sketch shows a roaster repre¬
sented by a line and is marked 6 on the left hand
end, and above the line, 1, 2, 3, 5, G, 7, 8, 9, and
- below the line, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, four spaces with¬
out any figures, the last space 5. These figures
5, five 10s, four blank spaces, and 5, on the right
hand end, were intended to represent a kiln 100
feet in length.
I would say the lower sketcli on sheet 5 just
described above is in my handwriting.
Sketch No. G is in Mr. Edison’s handwriting,
showing a cross section of kiln, two hearing or fric¬
tion wheels, showing a large gear, small pinion,
showing a plan view of kiln showing one section
with thrust ring, thrust wheel, plan of sketch show¬
ing a gear, two bearings, a pair of beveled gears
and a clutch. .......
Sketch No. 7, which is in Mr. Edison’s handwrit¬
ing, shows the feeding end of a kiln for the raw
material, also shows. the brick stack, shows a stack
24 inches, stack red brick lined or cheap fire brick
Deposition of Emil Eerier. 909
up 15 feet, water tubes to heat water for boiler 2725
are shown in this brick section; holes for remov¬
ing dust are shown.
Sketch No. 8 shows the discharge end of roaster
or kiln, showing cooler or chute, showing by shaded
lines clinker partly filling the chute up, showing
hy arrows intended for air to he drawn up through
the chute and feeding or blowing air into the coal
apparatus. This sketch is in Mr. Edison’s hand¬
writing.
Sketch No. 9 shows one of the half sections at
the feeding end of the kiln, shows the brick chamb¬
er with its screw conveyer witlr a pulley on the end
of the screw: for revolving the same, shows a stack, 2726
ulso shows a cross section showing the screw in
the bottom of the brick chamber with the stack
on top, and two lines to represent the sides in¬
clined towards the screw. This sketch is also in
Mr. Edison’s handwriting.
Qll. In your answer to Q2 you spoke of clinker
that was bought in June 1899. Do you recollect
from what company that clinker was bought?
A. Lehigh Portland Cement Company.
Q12. Do you recollect any occurrence between
you and Mr. Edison with reference to that clinker?
A. Yes sir. We had a pair of grinding rolls,
and in trying to grind the clinker it flaked, that is, 2727
in other words, it would not pulverize fine. The
outside of the clinker being apparently black, and
the inside, when broken open with a hammer, had
a yellow appearance, which showed that the clinker
was not properly burned so that it could be pulver¬
ized to a fine powder in the grinding rolls that we
had used for other experiments.
Q1S. What, if anything, did Mr. Edison say to
you on this occasion?
A. He asked me to crack three or four of the
pieces with a hammer and they all showed this
Deposition of Emil Holder.
911
910 Deposition of Emil Herter.
2728 yellow center. He said right away tlmt tlmt clink¬
er was underburned.
Q14. I sliow you the four blueprint photographs
dated September 16tli, 28, and October 7, Octo¬
ber 7, 1899 and the first tlirqe photographs dated
April 1, 1900, all seven of which have been offered
in evidence, and are contained in the book of photo¬
graphs of tile Edison Portland Cement Company.
Please state what you know about these photo¬
graphs?
A. Tile blueprint photograph dated September
10, 1899 shows two models of the two 100 foot kilns
with tile 50 foot brick extension, erected in the
2729 model house ut the laboratory of Thomas A. Edi¬
son, West Orange, N. J. It also shows the dis¬
charge end In front of one of the models, shows
the cooler at one end resting on a wooden horse, «;
shows the discharge end of thu other model set¬
ting on the floor, shows a small pair of rolls. The
photograph dated September 28, 1899 shows the
model of the two roasters, the two discharge ends,
the two brick chambers ut the feeding end, also
the stack, shows the roaster sections of the model,
shows the friction wheels for the roaster, shows
the friction wheels for the cooler, also shows the
outline of the trusses of the roaster building,
2780 shows a small pair of rolls.
The first photograph October 7th, 1899 shows
the model of the roaster, shows the feeding eiid for
the raw material, shows the stack, shows the model
of the building.
The second photograph October 7th, 1899
shows the feeding end of the roaster model, show¬
ing the 50 foot brick chamber, and showing the
feeding mechanism for bringing the raw material
through the roaster model. This model shown by
blueprint photogrnphs September 10th, September
28, October 5th, October 7th, and October 7th was
made on a scale of two inches to the foot, and was 2731
erected under my directions. These four blue¬
print photographs were taken by myself at the
direction of Mr. Mallory. These dates September
10, show the stage of how far the work on the
model had progressed, also., September 28th, Octo¬
ber 7th and October 7th show how far the work
had progressed. These photographs were taken
September 10th, September 28th, October 7th and
October 7th, 1899 by myself, with my own camera.
Q15. Are the dates marked on those blueprint
photographs reproductions of the dates marked on
the negatives or are they dates which were marked
on the blueprints? 2782
A. They are from dates marked on the negatives
as soon as they were dry, and the date as given on
■> each shows the day when they were taken.
QIC. Now please describe the first three photo¬
graphs marked April 1st, 1900, and state when
those photographs were taken?
A. The photograph on the top of the page shows
the roaster or the experimental roaster kiln in
the yard of the laboratory of Thomas A. Edison,
Orange, N. J. and shows that the kiln is all up
with the exceptions of the last section at the dis¬
charge end. This photograph was also taken with
my camera on April 1st, 1900. The photograph 2733
on the lower half of the page shows more of a
side view of the kiln, showing the kiln without
the last section attached to it, shows the support¬
ing wheels, and also shows brackets, hearings,
shows the 50 foot brick extension at the upper
or feeding end, and was also taken with my cain-
t The third photograph shown on the upper half
of the next page shows the upper end of the kiln
50 feet in length, shows the bearings for the pud¬
dles to feed the raw material in the stationary
5)12 Deposition of Emil Holder.
2784 part, imcl the ro tilting part of the 100 foot kiln.
This photograph, as well as the other two, and all
marked April 1st, was taken with my camera by
a Mr. Damon as I was sick at the time this work
had progressed so far.
Q17; in your last answer yon say that the first
photograph of April 1st, 1900 “shows thut the
kiln is all up with the exception of the last section
at the disclmrgu end”. I assume that you mean
only the rotary or 100 foot part of the kiln. Is
thut correct?
A. Vcs sir.
Q18. Do the photographs of April 1st, 1900
2735 show any lining, or burning apparatus, or stack?
A. No sir.
Q19. Do you recollect overhearing any conver¬
sation at Euston, I'a., in 1902 about the Edison
long kiln; and if so, state what place it was and
what was said?
Ma. Richmond : Objected to as secondary
and incompetent.
Mb. Hicks: The question calls for direct
testimony concerning statements made at
tile time and place inquired about, tending
to show the opinion entertained at the time.
2730 A. In August 1902 when I went to the cement
plant at New Village from Orange, Mr. Darling,
chief engineer and superintendent of the plant of
the Edison Portland Cement Company at New
Village, sent me to Easton, Pa., to the United
States Hotel for my lodgings or board, as the house
at New Village was not large enough to accommo¬
date another person for sleeping over night, and
being at the hotel in the' evening and- also at the
supper table I heard some of the men sitting
around me tnlkirig about the foolish move the '
Deposition of Emil Hertcr.
913
Edison Portland Cement Company were making in 2737
putting in rotary kilns 150 feet in length, and
made of cast iron sections. These conversations of
these men were almost made nightly at the supper
table, and also after supper outside in front of
the hotel I heard for about ten weeks the remarks
us they put them, and they laughing over them
seemed to enjoy them very much, not knowing that
one amongst their midst was from the Edison
pluut. I enjoyed these remarks and sat there, as
my experience and my relations with Mr. Thomas
A. Edison in the last twenty-four years have
proved that he is a pretty good guesser when he
undertakes to outline some new invention of his, 2788
und the kilns in question have no doubt more
than proved the correctness of ills ideas.
Q20. Prom the conversations of these men did
they seem to be men engaged at that time in the
cement business?
Mb. Richmond : Same objection and also
objected to as leading and conjectural.
A. Yes sir.
Adjourned to October 19th, at 10:30 A. M.
New York, October 19tli, 1912. 2780
Met pursuant to adjournment.
Present: Parties as before.
EMIL HERTER, resumes the stand.
Dibbct examination continued by Mb. Hicks:
Q21. Prom your previous answer I understand
that all of Bketeh No. 1 and the writing thereof
were made by Mr. Edison except that you wrote
thereon the following words “flange 2 y2 inches
Deposition of Emil Herter.
m.4
2740 thick 5 inclies”, unci along side of the Black the
words “3' — 0 ; 20' — 0 ; stack — 5' — 0, inside of
lining". Is this correct?
Mr. Richmond : Objected to as leading, or
useless repetition.
Mr. Hicks : The. witness has already de¬
scribed these sketches in his own way. Eor
the convenience of the Court, these ques¬
tions are now put in order that the nota¬
tions made by the witness may be brielly
and clearly differentiated from the drawings
and writings made by Mr. Edison.
2741 A' Xm. sir.
Q22. On sketch No. 2 I understand that all was
made by Mr. Edison except tlint in the lower left
hand corner there is u sketch, of a cooler with fig¬
ures “41/2" — 30" :4 25' — 0” thereon made by
you and except that in the upper left hand corner
there is a triungie bearing the figures “i/2” and “12”
and to the right of the triangle the figures “•/£ =
1 ft.” made by you. Is this correct?
A. Yes sir.
Mr. Richmond : Same objection and also
objected to on the ground that this is not
the best evidence, but that Mr. Edison hirn-
■2742 self should testify in regard to these -mat-
Mr. Hicks: If Defendant’s Counsel de¬
sires the testimony of Mr. Edison, who, as is
well known is quite deaf, why didn’t defend¬
ant’s Counsel call bun os a witness?
Mr. Richmond: Because Complainants’
, Rebuttal testimony was not known to de¬
fendant’s counsel when defendant’s reply
testimony was being taken.
Mr. Hicks: Complainants’ Counsel re¬
gards the objection made as utterly absurd.
Deposition of Emil Herter. 915
Q23. Referring to sketch No. 3 I understand 2743
that sketch No. 3 was all made by Mr. Edison. Is
this correct?
Mr. Richmond: Same objections.
Mr. Hicks : Complainants’ Counsel under¬
stands that the objections made by defend¬
ant’s Counsel to these questions in regard
to these nine sketches are to be understood
as being made to each question put.
A. Yes sir.
. Q24. With regard to sketch No. 4 I understand
that sketch No. 3 was all made by Mr. Edison. Is
this correct? 2744
Sin. Richmond: Same objections.
A. Yes sir.
Q25. With regard to sketch No. 5 I understand
that the sketch and the writing thereon were all
made by Mr. Edison except that the following no¬
tation “25' about; 25' — 0; 50' — 0"; change _
130 ft. long. —3 — 21 — 00” and all below these
quoted figures were made by you. Is this correct?
Mr. Richmond : Same objections.
A. Yes sir.
Q2G. Referring to sketches Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 0, I
understand that the sketches No. 6, 7, 8 and 0 and -274e
the writings thereon were all made by Mr. Edison.
Is this correct?
Mu, Richmond: Same objections,
A. Yes sir.
Q27. Please state the circumstances by reason
of which you made your marks or notations upon
such of these nine sketches as bear any marks or
notations made by you?
A. These notations made on these sketches were
put on there so that I would remember, when Mr.
910
Deposition of Emil Herter.
Deposition of Emil Herter.
'2746 Edison explained the sltetches to me, what he had
in his mind.
Mr. Eioics: Sketch No. 1, having been
offered in evidence after the answer to QL6
in the deposition of Mr. Mallory, the re¬
maining eight sketches are offered in evi¬
dence and marked as follows; —
Complainants’ Exhibit, Edison Sketch
No. 2, January, 1899;
Complainants’ Exhibit, Edison Sketch
No. 3, January 1899 ;
Complainants’ Exhibit, Edison Sketch
No. 4, Junuary 1899;
Complainants’ Exhibit, Edison Sketch
No. 5, January 1899;
Complainants’ Exhibit, Edison Sketch
No. 6, January 1899;
Complainants’ Exhibit, Edison Sketch
No. 7, January 1899;
Complainants’ Exhibit, Edison Sketch
No. 8, January 1899;
Complainants’ Exhibit, Edison Sketch
No. 9, January 1899.
Mr. Richmond: These sketches are ob¬
jected to as not properly proved and as not
constituting the best evidence. It might
be that if Mr. Edison, who is alleged to have
had a large share in making the sketches,
were here, he could answer questions about
their significance, and could explain his
ideas which these sketches are supposed to
illustrate.
Mr. Hicks : The objection that the
sketches are not properly proved is mean¬
ingless since the witness has testified that
the sketches are in the drawing and hand¬
writing of Mr. Edison, with the few excep¬
tions noted, nnd were delivered by Mr. Edi¬
son to the witness in January, 1899 ac- 2749
companied by explanations made by Mr.
Edison to the witness. As Complainants’
Counsel understands the objection it
amounts merely to this;— That the sketches
have been proved by one competent witness
instead of being proved by some other wit¬
ness.
Q28. In your answer to Q3 you said “We started
the roaster Monday morning and continued the
run until Tuesday morning, working in our
clothes just ns we came from Orange, and we looked
like a set of niggers when we got through with
the first experiment”. Whom do you refer to
by “wo” in the passage quoted?
A. Mr. Edison, Mr. Darling, Mr. Mason, and the
burner and myself.
Q29. Where did you find the nine sketches by
Mr. Edison to which we have been referring, and
before you produced them at this examination?
A. I found them at the laboratory of Mr. Edi¬
son in a box of negatives, being in between each
negative to preserve the negatives from being
scratched.
Q30. What negatives were those?
A. The negatives of the photographs of the blue¬
prints of the model of the roaster. The negatives ^751
were dated September 16th, 1899, September 28th,
October 5tli, October 7tli and October 7th, 1899.
Direct Examination Closed.
Cross examination iiv Mil Richmond:
XQ31. Were you a mechanical engineer for the
Edison Portland Cement Company?
A. Yes sir.
918
Deposition of Emil Horten.
' 2752 XQ32. You state in your answer to Q3 that in
January 1S99 Mr. Edison gave you some sketches.
How do you fix this date?
A. Tlie New Jersey and Pennsylvania Concen¬
trating Works at Edison, N. J. closing down in the
fore part of December of 1898, I was told to report
to Orange at the laboratory of Mr. Edison for
further work. The month of December, when I
came to the laboratory, I finished up some draw¬
ings for some changes that were made on a small
pair of rolls that we had at the laboratory that
were used for crushing stone, and that took me
probably all of December as I had to make both
2758 my drawings and tracings having no one else to
help me at the time, and 1 am quite positive that
these sketches were handed to me by Mr. Edison in
the fore part of January of 1899.
XQ33. Did he make the sketches in your pres¬
ence?
A. No sir.
XQ34. What was the date when you began to
lay out a general plan of the present Edison Port¬
land Cement Company’s plant at New Village?
A. Some time in July of 1899.
XQ35. 1 understand that you had the kiln sec¬
tions about all on their friction wheels or bear-
-2754 ings at the laboratory by April 1999, but that the
kiln was not fired up or started until some time
in the latter part of . June, 1901; wlmt was the
cause of this long delay?
A. In order to get all the material, and especial¬
ly the fire brick which was special fire brick,
none of the manufacturers of fire brick were will¬
ing to accept the order, for these corrugated brick
was largely the cause of the roaster not being able
to be fired up before about June 1901, also the coal
gun we were making for the roaster, we had to:
. design and make, took us quite some time before
it would work, and when we did try it in June it
2755
Deposition of Emil Hertcr. 919
laid down and would not work. In trying to run
it for ten hours, being different from a test, where
we only tried it for about an hour before, and tak¬
ing a brand new kiln lined with fire brick twelve
inches .thick was almost impossible to get up a
heat by having the coal gun lay down and refuse
to work about every hour or so. This caused con¬
siderable delays.
XQ3C. Did you know anything about any of tbe
flanges of the cast iron kiln sections breaking
there at the laboratory?
A. No, sir, not ut the laboratory. The kiln
flanges did not start to break on roasters 1 and 2
until after 1993. I might state that the kiln flanges 2756
as now built, on roasters 1 and 2, and all other
roasters at the Edison Portland Cement Plant are
lined with a steel shoe, or tire.
XQ37. Speaking of your first experiment at New
Village you said “The roaster and the burner that
they had, also the coal guns, gave no end of trou¬
ble * * Just wliat did you refer to by
the word “burner”?
A. The operator operating coal guns or burner.
XQ38. You mean the man, do you?
A. Yes sir.
XQ39.: Was he incompetent?
A. The kiln at New Village being 159 feet long 2757
was a different proposition from a kiln as used
through the cement region at that time which was
only from 40 to 00 feet long.
XQ40. I don’t think you have quite answered
the question ; was he incompetent?
Me. Hicks: Objected to os calling for a
conclusion, and the opinion of the witness.
A. I have no doubt that he was the best man
that Mr. Darling, chief engineer, and superintend¬
ent of the plant, could procure as a cement burner
to run the kiln.
Hit. Hioks : Smile objection. Incompe¬
tent means nothing. Incompetent for what?
A. While he may have been able to successfully
operate a 40 or 00 foot kiln, he could not, at the
first experiment of the roaster at New Village,
operate successfully the 150 foot kiln.
XQ42. What were the names and addresses of
the men whom you heard talking at Easton for
about ten weeks?
A. That I do not kno
XQ43. What was the
' 2750 you mentioned in answei
XQ43. What was the name of that burner that
you mentioned in answer to Q28?
A. That I cannot remember.
XQ44. When was it that you found the nine
sketches in the box of negatives?
A. I think in about the middle of May 1912.
XQ45. Please state the circumstances briefly,
and whether you were making a search for them or
for something else?
A. I was making a search for all drawings that
I could find that related to the No. 1 roaster as
erected at the laboratory of Mr. Edison in 1900,
and 1901.
XQ4G. What is your present relation to the Edi¬
son Portland Cement Company?
A. I am not connected at present with the Edi¬
son Portland Cement Company.
XQ47. By wlmt means did you fix the dates of
lien you were answering Q30 didn’t
:tes from the exhibit photographs
e other, and read them off in mak-
Deposition of Emil Herter. 921
XQ49. Does Sketch No. 1 show water tubes at 3701
the base of the stack?
A. Yes sir.
XQ50. Can you tell from this sketch whether
the two 60 foot kilns were intended to be of cast
A. That was explained to me by Mr. Edison
when he handed me these sketches, that they were
to be of cast iron.
XQ51. Does Sketch No. 2 show a worm or screw
conveyer to advance the cement material in the sta¬
tionary 30 foot section?
A. It does.
T
922 Deposition of Emil Herter.
2704 XQ52. Does Sketch No. 8 show holes through
the sides of the kiln nenr its lower end for the
clinker to drop through?
A. Yes sir.
XQ53 Referring to sketch No. G, what are the
three approximately rectangular outlines at thu
lower right bund portion of the sheet?
A. I, should say from my present recollection,
they would represent three kilns.
XQ54. Do you know what was the idea in
representing these three kilns side by side on this
sheet?
A. Yes, the idea wub to have one line shaft
27615 operating, with beveled gears and clutches, a
number of kilns us was then the practice in the
cement plants in the Lehigh region.
XQ55. You spoke of making a search, I under¬
stand ubout the middle of May, 1912 for all
drawings that you could And that related to thu
No. 1 roaster as erected at the laboratory of Mr.
Edisou in 1900 and 1901. Have all the drawings
that you found for that search been offered in
evidence or produced in this case?
A. Yes sir. I might add all working drawings
that were at the laboratory relating to the cement
plant and model roaster were burned up some
2760 time in 1910, as Mr. Edison wanted tbe room
where they were stored in for other experimental
purposes.
XQ5G. Are these nine sketches all the sketches
that you found pertaining in any way to the
same subject matter, when you made your search
in or about May 1912?
A. Yes sir.
XQ57. Do you mean that in 1910, by Mr.
Edison’s direction, all working drawings at the
laboratory, relating to the laboratory kiln or the
models thereof, were burned? • ■■■
Deposition of Emil FTcrter. 923
A. Yes sir, and all other drawings that be- 2707
longed to the New Jersey & Pennsylvania Con¬
centrating Works.
Mn. Hicics : The question and answer ob¬
jected to in that it does not appear that
any working drawings relating to the
laboratory kiln or the models thereof were
at the laboratory when the burning took
place in 1910. Mr. Mason’s drawing dated
November 23rd, 1899 for the 100 foot
rotary part of the laboratory kiln is in
evidence.
Mb. Richmond: Defendant’s Counsel re¬
lies on the second part of the answer to 2768
XQ55, as between this and the statement of
Complainants’ Counsel.
Mu. Hicks: If Defendant’s Counsel
thinks the point at all material, he can
make it clear now, and should do so.
Mb. Richmond: Inasmuch as it seems
clear, Defendant’s Counsel will not unduly
prolong this record.
Cnoss Examination Closed.
Re-dibect examination by Mb. Hicks:
RDQ58. Referring to your answer to XQ55,
were you at the laboratory in 1910 at the time
that the burning of things referred to by you
took place, I mean were you present at any such
burning?
A. No sir.
RDQ59. Did you examine the things that were
burned?
A. No sir.
RDQG0. In view of your last two nnswera I
understand that all that you meant by your
924 Deposition of Emil Harter. ~
answer to XQ55 was that if any working draw¬
ings relating to the cement plant and model
roaster wore at the laboratory at the time the
burning took place, they were burned, so far as
you know?
Mu. Richmond: Objected to as grossly
leuding.
Mu. Hicks: The witness having clearly
shown that lie has no actual knowledge of
what was burning, it is thought that the
question is proper.
A. Yes.
RDQG1. Referring to XQ32 and your answer
thereto, with regard to how you fix the date of
January 1890, when you say Mr. Edison gave you
the nine sketches; does the date March 21, 1899
in your, handwriting on the sketch No. 5 assist
you in fixing the date of January 1899?
Mu. Richmond: Objected to as leading.
A. Yes, it does.
RDQG2. Referring to XQ34 and your answer
thereto, please state whether the general plan
which you laid out was intended for use directly
in connection with the models for the laboratory
kiln, or for the Now Village plant?
A. For the model erected at. the laboratory. ■
RDQG3. Are you n member of any society of
mechnnicnl engineers?
A. Yes sir, I have been a member of the Amer¬
ican Society of Mechanical Engineers since June,
1894, and did join at. Mr. Edison’s request.
RDQG4. Who requested you to search for all
the drawings relating to roaster No. 1 as erected
at the laboratory?
A. Mr. Hicks.
RDQG5. Referring to sketch No. 2, please slate
whether when the 150 foot kiln was erected ul the
Deposition of Emil Herter. 925
laboratory a screw conveyer extended through 3773
tiie 50 foot brick chamber?
A. No sir.
RDQGG. Referring also to sketch No. 2, please
state whether the cross section of the brick
chamber wus similar to the- cross section shown
on the lower part of sketch No. 2?
A. No sir. The cross section of the brick sec¬
tion of the experimental kiln as erected at the
laboratory was straight or fiat on the bottom.
Re-Direct Examination Closed.
Re-chons examination by Jin. Richmond : • 2774
RXQG7. Are these nine pencil sketches that you
have discussed the ones that you referred to in
the first sentence of your answer to Q3?
A. Yes sir.
RXQG8. Are these nine sketches all the sketches
that Mr. Edison handed you at about that time
in that connection?
A. Yes sir.
RXQG9. You then say “I made paper drawings
of this kiln”; where are they?
A. They cannot be found. Those are the ones
I was looking for in Jlay 1912.
RXQ70. Then you say that in March 1899 2776
you made a drawing of a section of a kiln 8
feet in outside diameter, etc; where is it?
A. It cannot he found.
RXQ71. Then you say that after you tested the
full size sections you made, “We then made
some more drawings changing the inclination of
the cylinder”. Where are these additional draw¬
ings?
A. They cannot be found.
RXQ72. Why cannot all these drawings lie
Deposition of Emil Herter.
■2770 found; cnu you give any explanation for your
failure to find them?
Mr. Hicks: Objected to unless the wit¬
ness knows. If the witness knows, com-
plaiimnts’ Counsel will be glad to have him
state the facts; but any conjecture is ob¬
jected to.
Mk. Richmond: Defendant’s Counsel
would be only too glad if the witness were
given a chance to state what he knows
without tliese preliminary suggestive re¬
marks by Counsel for Complainants.
Mu. Hicks: Then if what defendant’s
2777 Counsel says is said in good faith, let him
withdraw his question, and ask the wit¬
ness directly as a preliminary question
whether he knows or not. »■
A. Well, I have spent over three weeks in
looking for those drawings, and as the things
in the room that had those drawings in and
also the drawings from the New Jersey & Penn¬
sylvania Concentrating Works were burned up
at Mr. Edison’s directions, I have been nnalile
to find any drawings relating to the model kiln
that was erected at the laboratory in 1900 and
1901, excepting the . nine pencil sketches that
have been produced.
Mu. Hicks: Answer objected to ns spec¬
ulative and a conclusion, the witness lias
said that he was not present at the burn¬
ing and that he did not examine the tilings
burned.
Rb-Cuoss Examination Closed.
Deposition Closed.
EMIL HERTEH. \
Proofs Closed.
Le^Cl Box )52L
District Court of the United States,
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OR NEW YORK.
THOMAS A. EDISON and NORTH l
AMERICAN PORTLAND CEMENT I
COMPANY, / In Equity
Complainants, I }{o. 2-1C
Patent
ALSEN’S AMERICAN PORTLAND CE- ^ No. 802,031.
MENT WORKS,
Defoe
Complainants' Brief .on Final Hearing,
Louts Hicks,
Solicitor dn<l couiuel for complainants,
71 Nassau Street,
SUMMARY AND INDEX OF COMPLAINANTS' ARGUMENT.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT RECORDS
MOTION PICTURES
This material consists of correspondence, court documents, and other
items relating to patent interference proceedings, infringement suits, and other
legal actions involving motion pictures. Included are documents pertaining to
infringements of the patents of other inventors, copyright infringements, the use
of trade names, color photography, and the development of a waterproof
coating for motion picture films. Also included are items from five patent
interference cases involving automatic shutters used in film projectors for fire
safety. In addition, there are case files for several suits brought against the
Motion Picture Patents Co., the General Film Co., and their licensees by
independent motion picture exhibitors and by the federal government. Most of
the selected items coverthe years 1 899-1910, but some of the correspondence
folders and case files extend into the 1 91 Os.
Less than 1 0 percent of the documents have been selected. The selected
items reflect Edison's personal involvement in legal matters, detail
experimental work done by Edison or his assistants, or broadly pertain to
matters of corporate organization and stratagems employed against
competitors. The documents have been arranged in the following order:
Correspondence
Bronx Studio
Color Photography
Brasseur, Charles L.
Davidson, William N. L.
Patents [not selected]
Powrie, John H.
Copyright Photographs
Feed Mechanism
Foreign Films
Lubin, Sigmund
Mutoscope and Related Patents
National Waterproof Film Company
Interference Proceedings
Aiken v. Moore and Armstrong (No. 27,476)
Platt v. Morris and Leveen v. Aiken v. Moore and Armstrong (No. 27,477)
Oertly v. Aiken v. Power (No. 27, 479)
Oertly v. Aiken v. Schneider v. Platt (No. 27,480)
Currie v. Moore and Armstrong (No. 30,181)
Case Files
American Mutoscope & Biograph Company v. Edison Manufacturing
Company
Armat Moving Picture Company v. Edison Manufacturing Company
Thomas A. Edison v. Sigmund Lubin
Greater New York Film Rental Company v. Motion Picture Patents
Company et a/.; Greater New York Film Rental Company v.
General Film Company et al.
Motion Picture Patents Company v. Independent Moving Picture
Company of America
Motion Picture Patents Company v. Universal Film Manufacturing
Company et al. ; Jesse Isidor Straus et al. v. Victor Talking Machine
Company
Richard F. Outcault v. Edison Manufacturing Company and Percival L.
Waters
Triple Damage Suits
United States of America v. Motion Picture Patents Company et al.
James H. White and John R. Schermerhorn v. Percival L. Waters
LEGAL DEPARTMENT RECORDS
MOTION PICTURES - CORRESPONDENCE
These folders contain correspondence and other documents relating to
legal matters involving motion pictures. The selected documents cover the
period 1904-1915. Among the correspondents are Edison, Frank L. Dyer,
Delos Holden, George F. Scull, and other members of Edison's legal staff.
Much of the correspondence concerns color photography. Included are letters
regarding the work of Charles L. Brasseur, William N. Lascelles Davidson,
William Friese-Greene, John H. Powrie, and Florence M. Warner. Other
documents pertain to the National Waterproof Film Co., which developed a
protective coating that was used on films manufactured by the Edison
Manufacturing Co. and other licensees of the Motion Picture Patents Co. Also
included are items relating to copyright matters, possible infringements of the
patents of other inventors, the use of trade names, and Edison's motion picture
studio in the Bronx.
Bronx Studio
This folder contains correspondence and other documents pertaining to the acquisition of
additional property for Edison’s motion picture studio in the Bronx. The selected items cover the
years 1904-1907. Included are letters from William Pelzer of the Legal Department to attorney
Frank E. Bradley of New York, along with indentures and agreements relating to the purchase.
Color Photography - Brasseur, Charles L.
This folder contains correspondence, drawings, and other documents pertaining to the U.S.
patent applications of Charles L. Brasseur and to his work with the Edison Manufacturing Co. on
color photography. The selected documents are from 1908. Included are letters by Brasseur,
Frank L. Dyer of the Legal Department, and William E. Gilmore of the Edison Manufacturing Co.
Color Photography - Davidson, William N. L.
This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating mainly to color
processes invented by William N. Lascelles Davidson of Brighton, England. The selected
documents are from 1905. Included are letters by Davidson; John R. Schermerhom, assistant
general manager of the Edison Manufacturing Co.; and James H. White, managing director of the
Edison Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Some of the documents pertain to Davidson’s collaboration with
William Friese-Greene on color animation.
Color Photography - Patents [not selected]
This folder contains approximately 140 U.S. patents (1874-1909) dealing mainly with color
photographic film, pictures, apparatus, and processes. Most of the patents were issued to
American inventors, including Joseph T. Clarke, Edward R. Hewitt, Rudolf Isenmann, Frederic E.
Ives, and James W. McDonough. Also included are patents issued to European inventors, such
as Louis D. Du Hauron, Jean M. Frachebourg, Louis A. Garchey, Annibal Lege, Victor Mathieu,
and Leon Vidal of France; William N. Lascelles Davidson and William Henry England of Great
Britain; and Karl Kieser and Gustav Selle of Germany.
Color Photography - Powrie, John H.
This folder contains correspondence and other documents, including notes, drawings,
patents, patent assignments, affidavits, and agreements. The selected items cover the period
1909-1915. Most of the correspondence is between Frank L. Dyer of the Legal Department and
patent holders John H. Powrie and Florence M. Warner. There are also letters to and from Edison,
along with other items bearing his marginalia. The documents deal mainly with Powrie's
heliochromic screens and related photographic processes, including an automatic film-developing
apparatus. Many letters relate to his experiments in Paris and to tests of his film samples by
Edison's staff. One letter in Edison's hand concerns Powrie's use of the Galvanometer Room at
the West Orange laboratory; others pertain to the commercial value of Powrie's dry plates and his
relations with the Pathe Fr6res and Lumiere companies. Also included are letters regarding the
cost and discontinuance of Powrie's experimental work at West Orange.
Some of the correspondence concerns Willard C. Greene, a photographic experimenter
in the West Orange laboratory who considered Wamer-Powrie film impractical for Edison's
kinetoscope; Charles Brasseur, another inventor working on color photography; and Montgomery
Waddell, a former assistant to Edison. Other items relate to the products of the Lumiere Co.,
including autochrome and panchromatic plates, and to consultations with Pathe Fr§res, including
a letter by engineer Charles Bardy regarding emulsification machines. There is also
correspondence referring to the possible construction of a new film plant, as well as a letter of
introduction for William C. Anderson of Detroit, a manufacturer of electric vehicles.
Copyright Photographs
This folder contains correspondence between Frank L. Dyer of the Legal Department and
Thorvald Solberg, register of copyrights at the Library of Congress, regarding copyright
applications for motion pictures scenes. The letters are from 1 905 and relate to an application for
a film entitled PoorAlgy.
Feed Mechanism
The one selected item in this folder is a letter from 1905 by Frank L. Dyer of the Legal
Department. It concerns an exhibiting machine designed by Edwin S. Porter and its possible
infringement of a patent issued to Thomas Armat in 1901.
Foreign Films
This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to copyright issues and
kinetoscope films purchased in Europe for duplication in the United States. The documents are
from 1904. Most of the letters are written by Frank L. Dyer of the Legal Department and patent
attorneys Bacon & Milans of Washington, D.C. Some of the items contain descriptions of specific
films from the Warwick Trading Co., Ltd., of London and Pathe Freres. Also included is
correspondence concerning a suit filed by the American Mutoscope & Biograph Co. against the
Edison Manufacturing Co.
Lubin, Sigmund
This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating primarily to the use of
the trade names "Universal" and "Exhibition" on projecting machines produced by Philadelphia
manufacturer Sigmund Lubin. The selected items are from 1 904.
Mutoscope and Related Patents
This folder contains correspondence, patents, drawings, and other documents relating to
the kinetoscope, the mutoscope, and additional machines for filming and exhibiting motion
pictures. The one selected item is a 1 905 letter from Frank L. Dyer to Alex T. Moore, manager of
the Kinetoscope Department of the Edison Manufacturing Co. The letter concerns the company's
plans to manufacture "a moving picture exhibiting machine similar to the mutoscope for use in
combination with the phonograph" and possible infringements of the patents of other inventors.
National Waterproof Film Company
This folder contains correspondence, agreements, and other documents relating to a
waterproof, protective coating used on films manufactured by the Edison Manufacturing Co. and
other licensees of the Motion Picture Patents Co. The selected items cover the years 1909-1910.
Most of the correspondence is by Frederick K. Babson, Walter A. Daniels, and Frederick B.
Thompson of the National Waterproof Film Co. and by George F. Scull of the Edison
Manufacturing Co. and Motion Pictures Patent Co. Some of the documents relate to meetings with
George Eastman of the Eastman Kodak Co., Jeremiah J. Kennedy of the American Mutoscope
& Biograph Co. and General Film Co., William N. Selig of the Selig Polyscope Co., and George
K. Spoor of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Co.
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Correspondence
Bronx Studio
This folder contains correspondence and other documents pertaining
to the acquisition of additional property for Edison's motion picture studio in
the Bronx. The selected items cover the years 1904-1907. Included are
letters from William Pelzer of the Legal Department to attorney Frank E.
Bradley of New York, along with indentures and agreements relating to the
purchase.
Approximately 20 percent of the documents have been selected.
John Holloran and others
to
Frederick P. Fox
DEED
Dated December 15, 1904.
Land affected by the within
instrument lies in Sec. 12,
Block 3279 on Land Map of..
City of New York. .
THIS INDENTURE made the 14th day of December in the j
year one -thousand nine hundred and four, between
JOHN HALLORAN of the City of New York and MARY A. HOLLORAN,
his wife, parties of the first part, THE FARMERS LOAN AND :
TRUST COMPANY AS EXECUTOR OF AND TRUSTEE UNDER THE LAST WILL
AND TESTAMENT OF ELWARD SMITH, DECEASED, party of the second !
part, CHARLES D. PURROY, unmarried, of Eatont'own, New Jersey, I
party of the third part, and JOHN PURROY MITCHELL, unmarried, J
of the City of New York, party of the fourth part, and
FREDERICK P. FOX of the City of New York, party of the fifth
psrt.
WHEREAS, the premises hereinafter described are owned
as follows: viz: one undivided third part by the said John
Hal lor an, one of the parties of the first part; one undivided
tiiird part by the said The Farmers loan and Trust Con^any as
Executor of and Trustee under the last will and testament of
Elward Smith, Deceased, party of the second part; one undi¬
vided sixth part by the said’Charles D. Purroy, party of the
third part; and one undivided sixth part by the said John
Purroy Mitchell, party of the fourth part, and
WHEREAS the parties of the first, second, third and
fourth parts have agreed to sell, and the party of the fifth
part has agreed to purchase, the premises hereinafter de- j
scribed for the sum of Fifty-three thousand five hundred
Dollars ($53500.00),
NOW THEREFORE, this Indenture Witnesseth,
That the said parties of the first, second, third and fourth
parts for and in consideration of the sum of $53500.00 paid
by the said party of the fifth part and apportioned among the
said parties of the first, second, third and fourth parts
in accordance with their respective interests as aforesaid
(The said party of the second part, The Farmers Loan and \
Trust Company as Executor of and Trustee under the last will
and testament of Elward Smith, Deceased, being paid the sum .( j
— — — - - - - ?
of $17,833.34) do hereby grant, bargain, sell, and release I
unto the said party of the fifth part, his heirs and assigns
forever, all their said respective right, title and interest
(being together the entire right, title and interest) of , in j
and to all that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate,^
lying and being in the Borough of the Bronx, City of New York, i
bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at the corner 'j
formed by the intersection of the Westerly side of Webster
Avenue with the Northerly side of Oliver Place, and running \
thence northwardly along the said westerly side of Webster
Avenue two hundred feet and sixty one-hundredths of a foot
(200.60), more or less, to. the corner foraed by the intersectiori
of the said Westerly side of Webster Avenue with the Southerly j
side of East 129th Street (formerly Walton Street); thence
running Westwardiy along the Southerly side of East 199th St. I
Two hundred and thirty feet and forty-four one hundredths of a |
foot (230.44),^more or less, to the corner formed by the
intersection of said Southerly side of East 199th Street with
the Easterly side of Decatur Avenue; thence running southwardly'
along the said Easterly side of Decatur Avenue two hundred and !
one feet and thirty-one one. hundredths of a foot (201.31), !
more or less, to the corner formed by the intersection of the j
Easterly side of Decatur Avenue with the Northerly side of j
Oliver Place; and thence running Eastwardly along the Northerly !
side of Oliver Place Two hundred and twenty- three feet and j
three one hundredths of a foot (223.03), more or less, to the |
northwesterly comer of Webster Avenue and Oliver Place, the j
point or place of beginning.
TOGETHER with the appurtenances and all the estate'
and rights of the said parties of the first, third and fourth
parts in and to the said premises; and also all the estate
therein vhich the said Elward Smith, deceased, had at the time
of his decease and which the said party of the second part has
or has power to convey or dispose of, whether individually or
j| by virtue of said will or otherwise and this deed being
ij executed by The Farmers Loan and Trust Company as Executor of
and Trustee under the last will an£L testament of Elward Smith,
i; :
ji deceased, by virtue of the power and authority to it given in
!; and by the said last will and testament of Elward Smith,
|: deceased.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said premises unto the party
ji of the fifth part, his heirs and assigns forever.
And the said John Holloran, Charles D. Purroy and
[; John Purroy Mitchell, but each only as to his own respective
ji interest in said, premises, and to no further or greater extent,
I do covenant with the said party of the fifth part as follows:-
j! FIRST: That they,' the said John Hollaran, Charles D. 1
Purroy and John Purroy Mitchell are seized of the said premises
ij in fee simple to the extent of their respective interests in
; the same as hereinbefore recited and that they have to such
extent a good right to convey the same.
SECOND: That the party of the fifth part shall quietly
enjoy said premises.
THIRD: That the said premises are free from encumbrances,
i! FOURTH: That they, the said John Holloran, Charles D.
j Purroy and John Purroy Mitchell, will forever warrant the title
j to ; their respective interests in the said premises as herein-
| before recited.
And the said The Farmers Loan and .Trust Company as
Executor of and Trustee under the last will and testament of
Elward Smith, Deceased, does hereby covenant with the said
party of the fifth part that it The Farmers Loan and Trust
Company as Executor of and Trustee Under The last will and
testament of Elward Smith, deoeased, has not done or suffered
anything whereby its interest in the said premises as herein¬
before recited has been incumbered in any way whatever.
- 4 -
IN 'WITNESS WHEREON, the parties of the first, third
and fourth parts have hereunto set their hands and seals and
the party of the second part has caused these presents to he
executed on its hehalf the day and year as above written.
In Presence of: JOHN HOLLORAN (SEAL)
MARY A. HOLLORAN (SEAL):
THE FARMERS LOAN AND TRUST
COMPANY AS EXECUTOR OF AND TRUSTEE:
UNDER THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF EDWARD SMITH, DECEASED.
By E. S. MARSTON, President
CHARLES D. PURROY (SEAL)
JOHN PURROY MITCHELL (SEAL)
On this 21st day of December in the year of our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and four, before me personally came
and appeared John Holloran and Mary A. Holloran, his wife, to
me known and known to me to be two of the individuals described
in and who executed the within instrument and they severally
acknowl edged to me that they executed the same.
Wi n. F. Bur rough,
Commissioner of Deeds,
New York City.
W. Bruce Caleb as
to Charles D. Purroy
Win. F. Bur rough as to
John Holloran and Mary
Holloran
(SEAL)
Attest
Sec'y.
STATE OF NEW YORK )
)
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )
*
STATE OE NEW YORK )
COUNTY OE NEW YORK )
SS:
On the 22nd. day of December in the year one thousand
nine hundred and four before me personally came Edwin S. Marstcn
to me known, who being by me duly Bworn, did depose and say
that he resided in the City of New York; that he was the
president of The Earmers Loan and Trust Comp any, the corpora¬
tion described in and which executed the above instrument;
that he knew the seal of said corporation and that the seal
jj affixed to said instrument was such corporate seal; that
jj it was so affixed by order of the Board of Directors of said
|| corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by like order.
jj (SEAL)
Wm. B, Cardozo,
Notary Public No. 23,
New York County.
i!
jj STATE OE NEW YORK )
• ) ss.
|! COUNTY OE NEW YORK )
On this 16th day of December in the year of our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and four, before me personally came
and appeared Charles D. Purroy, to me known and known to me to
| be one of the individuals described in and who executed the
I within instrument and he said to me that he executed the same.
• E. V. Daly,
I Commissioner of Deeds,
| City of New York
- 6-
STATE OE NEW YORK )
COUNTY OE NEW YORK )
On this 22nd. day of December in the year of our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and four before jne personally came
John Purroy Mitchell, to me known, and known to me to he one of
the individuals described in and who executed the within
instrument and he acknowledged to me that he executed the same.
Wm. B. Cardozo,
(SEAL) Notary Public, No. 23,
New York County.
Recorded in the office of the Register of the
County of New York on this 23rd day of
December, A.D. 1904 at 2 o'clock 35 Min. P.M.
in Block Series (Conveyances) Section 12,
Lib. 19, Page 241, and indexed under Block
No. 3279 on the Land Map ofnthe City of
New York.
Witness my hand and official seal
Register.
| Contract for Property
f
t Tho Lawyers’ Title Insurance Company
of New York.
1 Capital anti Surplusf < - - ■ $8,000,000
I: Permanent Guarantee Fiind.-f • $2,625,000
4 .Tz±r;f
AGREEMENT, mudo this sixth dny of June, 1905. yrjQ
between Frederick P. Pox, of. New York City, Borough of Bronx, N. Y.
10 party of tho first part, and
ALEXANDER T. MOORE of New York City,
I WITNESSETH, That tho party of tho first part agrees to soil and convoy, and the party of the
Borough
second part agrees to pnrehaso all that lot or parcel of land, in tho RXX% of Bronx, City of
INew York, State Of New York. with the buildings and improvements
thereon, described ns follows : Beginning at a point formed by the intersection
of the easterly side of Decatur Avenue with the northerly side of Oliver
II
Place, running thence northwardly along the said easterly side of Decatur
Avenue one hundred (IOO) feet, thence eastwardly and at right angles
with the said easterly side of Decatur Avenue, one hundred (IOO) feet,
.thence southwardly and parallel with the said easterly side of Decatur
Avenue, one hundred (IOO) feet to the northerly side of Oliver Place
and thence westwardly and along the said northerly side of Oliver Place
jto the point or place of beginning.
i Tlio prioo is fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000. )
payable as follows :
Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars
Dollars on tho signing of this contract, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged.
Fourteen Thousand Five Hundred ($14,500.00) Dollars.
1 Dollnrs in cash on tho delivery of the deed ns hereinafter provided.
AND THE SAID party of tlio first part, on receiving such payment
at the time and in tho manner above-mentioned, shall at tho oxpenao of tho purty of tlio first part execute,
acknowledge and deliver, to tho said party of tho second part, or the assigns of tho party of the second'
part, u proper dood containing tho usual full covenants and warranty for tho conveying and assuring
to tbo party of tho second part, or tho assigns of tlio party of tlio second part, the foo simplo of tho said
premises freo from ull oneumbraneo dXStpcSKJtilEXHDaastCil The said Doed shall bo ' delivered" at the
New York City, .
Offleo of Frank E. Bradley, 290 Broadway, on the 20th day of
June
12 o'clock noon.
Tho chandeliers, gas fixtures, ranges, hoating and hot water apparatus, water closets, hath tubs
and other plumbing now on said promises
nro to bo included in this sale and in tho warranty aboyo sot forth.
Tho rents of tho said premises, insurance premiums, and interest on mortgages, if any, shall bo
adjusted, apportioned and allowed up to the day of taking title.
Tho riak of loss or damago to said promises by fire until tho delivery of said deed is assumod by
tho party of the first port. IT IS UNDERSTOOD that tho stipulations aforesaid nro to apply to and bind
tho heirs, executors, administrators and assigns of tho roBpoctivo parties.
Tho party of tho first part ngreos that
is the broker who has brought about this sale, and agrees to pay said broker his commission therefor.
WITNESS the hands and soals of tho above parties.
Signed, sealed and delivered in tho presence of
AT THE OLOSING OE THIS TITLE
THE SELLER
Should produce all insurance policies, and duplicates, if tho same are in his possession, or a
memorandum thoroof, if hold by others ; also produce tho tax and water recoipts of tho curront year and’ any
leases, deeds, or agreements.
If thero is a wntor motor on the promises, it should be road and bill thorefor produced.
If choro is u inortgago on the premises to bo convoyed, the receipts should bo produced showing
to what date the interest has been paid, and if tho principal has been reduced, showing that faot.
THE PURCHASER
Should bo' prepared' with money or- a certified cheek’ di-awn' to liis'own order. Tho check may bo ’
certified for an approximate amount and money may be provided for tho balance of tho settlement.
THE LAWYERS’ TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, 1
OFFICES:
87 & 80 Liberty Street, Borough of Manhattan.
2804 Third Avenuo, Borough of tho Bronx.
N. E. Cor. 72d Street and Columbus Avenuo, Borough of Manhattan.
, : 88, 40, 42 & 44 Court Htieet, Borough of Brooklyn.
Whlto Plains, Westchester County.
Jamaica, Queens County. ' . . . . .
Rlvorhead, Suffolk County.' • '
EXAMINES AND INSURES TITLES TO REAL ESTATE, THE ASSURED SELECTING COUNSEL IF HE DESIRES.
[INCOMPLETE]
EDISON MANUFACTURING CD.
MAIN OFFICE AND FACTORY
ORANGE. N. J.
EDISON PRIMARY BATTERIES AND FAN MOTOR DOTFITS
EDISON PROJECTING KINETOSCDPES AND FILMS.
Mr. Trank E. Bradley,
Dun Building, 290 Broadway,
Hew York, IT# X»,
Dear Sir:
1 enclose herewith the contract for the' purchase
of a 20 foot strip adjourning the property purchased hy us
some time ago for the Edison Studio.,
In the sketch which.! enclose the 100 foot square
section indicates the original purchase.. And in order to
protect the Studio from the eredtion of a tall Building which
might tend to shut out our light, we contracted for the' space
20 ft, wide adjourning our property on Oliver Place., In looking
into the purchase of this property, we discovered that through
the sale of 'the lots adjourning our property on the north, a
strip measuring 1.31 ft,, and decreasing in width in the eastern
direction was entirely overlooked^, in making the bargain for.,
the 20 ft-, section to the east of our property, I got the owners
to throw in this narrow strip on the north, so as to protect us
against any complications that migit arise as to the correct
lines. Therefore, what I expect to obtain by the contract whioh
I enclose, is the D-shaped strip as indicated in the enclosed
sketch.
[ENCLOSURE]
AGREEMENT, made this day
P £
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hereinafter described as the seller, and • - - - -
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£p (Waj- ^jzX-cUi. t ^ai^: ^c4 /W-
WITNESSETH, That the seller agrees to sell and convey, and the pui
to purchase all that lot of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon,
$ csW^ <0 , <^kr,
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§ > 7*
[ENCLOSURE]
EDISON MANUFACTURING CO.
MAIN OFFICE AND FACTORY
ORANGE, N. J.
EDISON PRIMARY BATTERIES AND FAN MOT0R OUTFITS
EDISON PROJECTING KINETDSEOPES AND FILMS.
Hot. 1st,
1907.
Mr. prank E. Bradley,
290 Broadway,
Hew York, H. Y.,
Dear Sir:
In re Edison Studio:
Your letter of the 28th ultimo, enclosing diagram
of survey and you hill for services in connection with the
purchase of the additional strip of land, came duly to hand.
Your hill has "been forwarded to the Auditing De¬
partment for payment.
Yours truly,
EDISON MAHUEACIUHIHO CO.,
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Correspondence
Color Photography - Brasseur, Charles L.
This folder contains correspondence, drawings, and other documents
pertaining to the U.S. patent applications of Charles L. Brasseur and to his
work with the Edison Manufacturing Co. on color photography. The selected
documents are from 1908. Included are letters by Brasseur, Frank L. Dyer of
the Legal Department, and William E. Gilmore of the Edison Manufacturing Co.
Approximately 30 percent of the documents have been selected. Among
the unselected items are a few letters from Brasseur to Dyer Smith of the Legal
Department (1 906, 1910) and copies of outgoing correspondence from Frank
L. Dyer to Brasseur and William E. Gilmore. There is also a drawing labeled
"Lumiere" and a document relating to thread veneering. Related
correspondence can be found in the "1908. Motion Pictures" folder in the
Document File Series.
BRASSEUR. o
o
New York, Iferch 10> 1908* . 190
prank L. Dyer, Esq.,
Montclair, H. J.
Dear Sir: -
If I understand your telephone message correctly , you
purpose acquiring, for Mr. Edison, the exclusive right to use, in
connection with the moving picture industry exclusively, such
U. S. patents for dolor-photography on roll-film as may he granted
me, and of which the specifications have been furnished you.
The conditions you mention for the periods of trial are •
satisfactory, namely, that I devote ono year of my time, beginning
March 16th, to the industrial development of these patents; Mr.
Edison to pay such exponses as may be incurred for machinery (state
limit if wished); to furnish such assistants as may be necessary
and to pay the other minor necessary expenses to develop these
patents industrially.
In addition to such disbursements, I am to receive $400.
per month for ny personal expenses and I further understand that,
should it be found necessary to devote another year to this develop
ment, I am to do so on the same terms.
Further, I understand that I am to receive a royalty,
during the life of these patents, amounting to 25 fo of the extra
profit derived from the sale or rental by the Edison Co. , of
colored moving picture films made by my processes; it being
understood that this extra profit will be determined as follows:
CHARLES L. BRASSEUR.
o
o
That, to the selling price of black and white film v/ill
he added the cost of coloring the film and that the difference
between this total cost and the selling price of the colored film,
v/ill constitute the profit.
It is further understood that, should Mr. Edison grant
a license to other moving picture concerns to use these films
under these patents, I will receive 50^ of whatever royalty he may
receive;
There is one part of your message which I did not under¬
stand and that relates to the point brought out by your Mr. Gilmore
namely, what will be the minimum royalty paid should Mr. Edison
decido to forego all profit on the color end and content himself
v/ith the increased profits which v/ould result from the increased
sales of colored films at the price of black, plus the mere co3t
of color;7 It might bo a very good business 'move on your part,
but as matters stand it v/ould prove rather disastrous to me.
Kindly let me hear from you in regard to this, also as
. to whether my understanding of your message is correct*^^*/ ✓'7s:
Yours very truly,
Charles L. BraBseur , Esq.,
10 East 15th Street,
Hew York, N.Y.
I am in receipt of 3'our letter of the 10th
inat aa follows:-
"Prank L. Dyer, Eeq.,
Montclair, H.J.
- Dear Sir:-
Xf I understand your telephone
message correctly, you purpose acquiring, for
Mr. Edison, the exclusive right to ubo, in connec¬
tion v/ith the moving picture industry exclusively,
such U.S. patents for color-photography on roll-
film as may be granted me, and of .which the speci¬
fications have been furnished you.
The conditions you mention for the periods
of trial are satisfactory, namely, that I devote
one year of my time, beginning March 16th, to the
industrial development of those patents; Mr. Edl-
son to pay such expenses as may he incurred for ma¬
chinery (state limit if wished); to furnish suoh
assistants aB may he necessary and to pay the other
minor hecessary expenses to develop these patents
i industrially.
. t0 such disbursements, I am to
receive J400. per month for my personal expenses
and T further understand that, should it be found
necessary to devote another year to this develop-
ment, I ajn to do -bo on the same terms.
Purther, X understand that I em to receive
of these patents, amount¬
ing to 25;' of the extra profit derived from* the
Mo. -2, CIB.
S‘stssa‘2 sl“* «*’ssr»u“ .
White ^?nthS B0^ine price of black and
be added the coot of coloring
5!diBn^t^LfUrt??r seders to od that, should Mr
i i . There is one part of your message which I
£“ ™\ ^erstand and that relates to the point
SS"irs«™
!,SSif“SS«
ffa s ,S asra-^s ztts?
on ™i! nJ ^ifht te * very good business move
mEaffitSS “ S! "tana “ pr«™
this Ef?n„yn^e^ me, h?®r from you in regard to
»i !: XrS.^S'oK!^^1”* °f
Yours very truly,
Chas. 1. Brasseur."
Regarding the above , thore are several points con-
cerning which you have not correctly understood our proposi¬
tion:
(1) Mr. Edison is to have not only "the exclusive
right to use, in connection with the moving picture in¬
dustry exclusively, such U.S. patents for oolor-photography
on roll-film as may be granted", but also all inventions
whether patented or not which you have made or which you
may make during the term of the contract for use in connec-
Ho. -3, CLB.
tion with color-photography as applied to the moving
picture industry, in other words, you are to give us the
benefit of your shill, knowledge and experience regardless
of patents.
(2) Ab to the expenses which are to be paid, these,
of course, will have to be defined as clearly as possible
in the formal contract.
(3) It is to be understood that the arrangement
v/ith you is to continue for one year with the option on our
part to extend it for a further period of one year if the
outlook is favorable.
(4) Perhaps the plan suggested by you for calculat¬
ing the amount of royalty amounts to the same thing as the
one which I suggested, but in order to be perfectly safe
. our position ohould be understood . . The royalty of course ;
cannot be bailed' 'on profit' riacle from the sale of colored >
films, but should he based solely on the added value of
your process, if the, prof it to the manufacturer on a black
and v/hite film is, for example, four oents per foot, and
the profit on colored films is seven oents per foot, then
obviously, the added value contributed to the film by your i
process, would be three oents per foot. It is this differ-* -
enoe between the profit made on the colored films, and that '
which would be made on the black and white films, that is
to be divided in the proportion of 78# to ua and 25# to you, ;!
As I explained, in each case the manufacturing cost
of films, both black and white and colored, shall comprise
the cost of lab or , and materials, general expense, and 20^
for selling expenses, etc. Deducting these items in each
case, from the aotual Belling price, will give the net
profit. In order that you might be entirely protected
in case, for commercial reasons, it should be decided at
some future time to sell colored films at no greater profit
than blaok and v/hite films, I propose that royalties in
every oase should at least amount to $5,000. per year. It
is difficult to see how such a condition of affairs oould
arise , because the colored films would undoubtedly command
a greater profit than the ordinary films, but at the same
time, you should be protected against all contingencies.
With these modifications, the proposition as outlined in
your letter, quoted above , is that suggested by me, and
which I will embody in a formal contract as soon as possi¬
ble . .
Should this arrangement be satisfactory, kindly in¬
dicate your approval on the bottom of this letter and re¬
turn the same to me, retaining the enclosed copy for your
own use.
Yours very truly,
SED/arK.
General Counsel,
EDISON MANUFACTURING CO.
MAIN OFFICE AND FACTORY
ORANGE, N. J.
— „ EDISON PRIMARY BATTERIES AND FAN MOTOR OUTFITS
^ EDISON PRDJECTINB KINETOSEIIFES AND FILMS.
jiClSdlfioTV. 10 Fifth Avenue. NewYork.
Mar. 16,1908.
Prank L. Dyer, Esq.,
c/o The Cochran,
Fourteenth & K Sta . ,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Dyer:
Mr. Brasseur has been In to see me to-day in
regard to the last letter you wrote him and which I saw before it
was forwarded to him. The only little problem that now comes up
is that of the royalty that he is to be paid under his agreement
with us. Five thousand dollars per year may seem all right, but
he i3 a little afraid that in the event of the coloring being made
universal the price will be so low as to be practically the same
as what the black and white photographs have been so that there is
no profit in it for either ourselves or Mr. Brasseur. In other
words, it puts him in the position that we could at some future
time sell these prints at such a price that all we would have to
do would be to pay him $5,000 a year minimum and that is all he
would get. His position is entirely tenable and we should agree
to it. I have practically agreed that the minimum amount that
we shall pay him per foot is l/4 cent per foot; do you approve
of this? I consider that his position is entirely correct and
have therefore practically decided that I will let him have
this. Possibly you can
ec some objection that I cannot see
S'. L. Dyer,
(2)
3/l 6 /O 8
now. Write me 30 that I will get it Wednesday morning.
Yours very truly,
J
weg/iww
Vice-Pres. & Gen. Mgr.
CHARLES L.*BRASSEUR.
0
p Df\ P- ~ ^
New York, March. 1 7 ,
. 190 8.
Prank L. Iyer, Esq. ,
Orange,
N. J.
Dear Sir:'-
I called to see you yesterday afternoon In regard to
your letter of the 13th inBt. and, in your absence, discussed the
various points with Mr. Gilmore. The points which you have
brought up in your letter will he settled in the way you
suggest, as that is entirely in the spirit of the understanding,
with the exception of the one relating to the minimum amount
to he paid me. As I explained to Mr. Gilmore that clause, left
as you suggested it, would prohahly prevent me from coming to
an agreement .with the parties who are to furnish me the amount
of money I require at the present moment as it would make it
possible for your successors to increase their business indef¬
initely without being legally bound to pay me more than Ihe
$5,000. per year, that is^if they saw fit to do without any
profit on the coloring of the film. Both Mr. Gilmore and 1 agreed
that a supplementary clause should be added fixing the minimum
royalty to be paid me at not less than 1/4 oent per linear
foot. This I think is fair to all concerned.
j Before drawing up Hie contract, 1 would like to dis-
ouss another point with you (which I have discussed with
Mr. Gilmore) and which I can make clear to you verbally much
CHARLES L* BRASSEUR.
o
S’. 1. D. #2.
quieter than writing.
Would you happen to know what the law of New Jersey
is in regard to high pressure hollers (125 to 176 pound pressure)?
My man in little Palls has been managing .his own boiler although
not having* I believe, a certificate of licensed engineer.
As I am looking around for suitable quarters, to put everything
under one roof, I would like to know what the law calls for,
as, in case a licensed engineer is necessary, it would be
much cheaper to obtain the steam from some neighboring building.
If you know about this^ kindly let me know and oblige,
Yours very truly,
Af
March 17, 1908..
W.- E. Gilmore, Esq,.,,
Edison Manufacturing Co..,
Orange, N. J.
Dear Mr. Gilmore:' ,
Yours of the 16th inst* has been reoeived\in refer¬
ence to Mr. Brasseur, and X agree with you that it would he en¬
tirely fair to provide in the arrangement for ^minimum '.royalty
of one-quarter cent per foot. I will bear this in mind in pre¬
paring the formal contracts. j\
|
\
Yours truly,
Regarding the attached correspondence, I return
the same to you at your request, since I have a. copy of my
1
[ATTACHMENT]
In reference to the patent situation as it
affects the proposition of having Mr. C. L, Brassaeur undertake
to develop his soheme for applying color photography in the moving
picture business, I beg to advise you as follows:
(1) Upon discussing the question with the Patent Offloe
Examine* in Washington, and making a careful examination of the
available patents, I find that there were two patents to Mho
Donough, granted March 22, 1892 (Nos. 471,186 and 471,187) that
would apparently be infringed, but since these patents expire
. on Maroh 22, 1909, they are not important. I have not been able
to find any other patent which appears to be infringed, at least
as the; scheme has so far been worked out by Mr. Brassaeur.
Not trussing entirely to my own judgment in the
matter, sinoe the subject is a highly technical one, I submitted
certain patents to Mr. Brassaeur with the request that he give
me his opinion thereon. This report which ooincides with my own
opinion is attached hereto.
[ATTACHMENT!
W. 35. Gilmore, Esq. -2- ^5 3/6/08
(2) Mr. Brassauer's applications for patents are in
satisfactory shape, although the claims can no doubt be improved.
The inventions can, in my opinion, be satisfactorily protected
by patents.
(3) So far as 1 can judge, from my brief knov/ledge of
the art obtained from reading the various patents, Mr. Brassauer's
theories appear to be correct, and I should Bay the problem in¬
volves a perfection of mechanical details rather than photo¬
graphic or optical considerations. Mo doubt Mr. Edison can con¬
tribute many suggestions which will be of value, because the
mechanical problem involved, namely: the extreme sub-division of
celluloid bodies or grains, and their application to a celluloid
film, is a problem that in some form or other he must have en¬
countered at various times in his experimental work. At the '
same time the problem impresses me as being extremely difficult,
although I should say it was less difficult than the development
of the vacuous deposit process.
(4) So far as any futta>.e.;difficulties that may be en¬
countered in the Patent Office and elsewhere are concerned, X
cannot, of ..course, express any opinion, although I do not anti¬
cipate trouble. On the whole I believe the situation to be suf¬
ficiently favorable to. warrant . taking up the matter, since if .it
turns out suoceBsfuIferdLt would be a very great advance in the art.
. Yours very truly,
General Counsel.
jj'JiD/tali
[ATTACHMENT]
\
1
)
New York, March 5, 1908.
Frank L. Dyer, Esq. ,
Montclair, N. J. ' 4#5 !
Dear Sir:-
I have carefully road over the various patents
submitted to me by you. All those relating specifically
to this branch of color-photography wore already known to
me, and I see no reason to change my opinion that I will
injio^way confliot with any of those submitted by you
o rA any other patents known to me.
As to Diffraction col or -photography, while it is
extremely ingenious, I have never heard or read anything
which would lead me to suppose that such photographs could
be satisfactorily projected. The plates are colorless
by themselves and need to be viewed by means of a special
instrument in order to bring out the colors. Moreover,
Mr. Ives in disoussing my new methods with me, has never
even intimated that these could in ary way be substituted
for mine. I do not believe that, in our connect ion, they
deserve serious consideration and they are certainly very
inferior in color rendering to those ontained by the or¬
dinary processes.
To make it clear to you as to why I believe I do
not conflict with others and also why we can expect a clear
field in our own particular line, I think it best to con¬
sider:
1st the colors employed
2nd the various methods of making grained screens,
3rd the methods of duplicating.
The colors employed by me are those described in
my French patent 364132 oD March 1st 1906, and United States
[ATTACHMENT]
application Ser. 359895 filed under the Convention,
Feb. 28, 1907, namely, the colors of the negative ortaking
screens are such, that, when photographing the spectrum
of white light, the deposits of silver obtained will cor¬
respond with Abney’s color-mixture curves as shown in Fig.
I. of that patent and the colors of the positive or view¬
ing screens are primary colors, i.e, the red corresponds
in hue to wave length 6700, the green to 5200 and the
blue-violet to 4600.
These colors , while deduced in a different manner
than those indicated by Mr. Ives (U.S. patent 432550, July
22nd 1890) were so near like his in color, that I felt it
incumbent upon me to offer to pay Mr. Ives a royalty for
the use of his colors, and did so until the expiration of
his patent July 1907. That patent having expired, his
colors are of course public property. As to. colors I see
no possibility of trouble or aFconfliot with any other
patent. *
Grained and lined screens, for color-photographic
purposes, are first mentioned in French patent 83061,
Nov. 23, 1868 of Ducos du Hauran. Among other processes,
he describes one in which the colors are ruled on the
plate in a regular recurring patent, also one, in which
the sheet (mica) is covered mechanically v/ith a grain of
three colors, or to quote literally, "une feuille translubile
recouverte meoaniquement d*un grain de trois coulers."
While he goes into details as to the method of making
lines and states how to duplicate such lined photographs,
■* The' matter as to wnetner .or not Mr. Ives was anticipate!
by Clerk-Maxwell (see lecture of ,1861) whose curves Mr.Ives
uses, is much discussed by everts. Mr. Ives having
brought suit against alleged inf ringers, the matter will be
settled shortly. 6V“'
-2-
[ATTACHMENT]
n>
he gives no intimation as to how he would produce the
grained plates. In this patent he also mentions ruled
paper, covered with a sensitive film and printed from the
hack. We therefore find there, all the elements of the
modern processes, namely, a support _,p lat e , paper or mica,
a ruled, or grained surface and a layer of sensitive mater¬
ial coated thereon, out of which is to he formed the pho¬
tograph. Unfortunately he does not seem to have to known
of Clerk-Maxwell's lecture, or to have realized how epoch
making that leoture was, for he uses Brewster's triad of
colors, namely, a red, yellow and blue with which triad,
color photographs cannot be obtained by the additive pro¬
cesses.
The next patents to be considered are the McDonough
United States Patents >471186 and 471187 of Mhrch 22,1892.
In these patents we find the grained plate practi-
oally as known today, namely, a mixture of grains of three
colors, red, green and blue (and if necessary yellow,)
dusted on a tacky surface, the grains being then made to
fill up the interstices by heating the plate until the
grains melt and touch one another. While in one of these
patents 471187 he mentions a celluloid support, he is very
careful to state, that he interposes the gelatin emulsion
between the celluloid and the grains which of course
totally unfits it for our purpose. As this patent ex¬
pires in March 1909, discussion of its validity in view of
the du Hauron patent, is only of academio interest.
The only other grain process known to me is that
described ;.in the lumierepa.tent — u. S. patent 822532 of
June 5, 1906. The only difference between that and the
McDonough patent is that the Lumierele f ill in the inter¬
stices with smaller grains, in reality^ charcoal. In a
British patent of 1906 they mention rolling the.. plate to
flatten out the grain. This, however, is not a new thing
[ATTACHMENT]
in screen making, for Joly,in British, patent 19388 of
1895, specifically mentions rolling his plates, cove red
with fibres, for the purpose of smoothing them down.
Moreover, in my own case rolling, alone, -would not answer;
m.
I must have heat and rolling^in order to weld the grains
together.
I see no reason to anticipate any conflict in con¬
nection with any of the above-mentioned patents.
On the other hand, my screens differ radically
from those previously described. Firstly, the material
of which the patent is made is such that, under the in¬
fluence of heat and pressure, the elements constituting
the pattern will bo welded together and al3o to their
support, so that the resulting film can be rolled and
unrolled without danger of loosening the grains or other
elements forming the pattern. In the other processes
the grains are merely glued on or held on by a varnish,
but do not form part of the film.
Secondly, the grains being cut mechanically, a much
greater uniformity of size is possible than with the
natural starch grains. This facilitates a most thorough
mixing and the method of applying on a non-tacky surface
ensures a much more even distribution than is possible
with the present processes.
Thirdly, provision is made for locating the grains
of at least one color, so that a practically perfect dis¬
tribution can be made, if found necessary.
Fourthly, the grains being of celluloid, being
flattened on both sides and the whole film being polished,
the utmost transparency possible is obtained, which cannot
be said of starch grains.
Attempts have been .made in Germany by Witt and by
-4-
[ATTACHMENT!
Krayn, to make celluloid, soreens by cemonting sheets of
alternate colors together and cutting off sections so'.as to
obtain line soreens at one operation. All the sheets I
have seen showed lines very much too broad and the sec¬
tions wore much too irregular to be of any practical use,
I the lines thus obtained being two hundred to the inch..
If it were possible to obtain very thin seotions
of any practical size', and then to cement these seotions
on a oontinuouB, colorless film, I would certainly try it
and I think moreover that it would be patentable as such.
Flowed films of extreme thinness would have to be cemented
together, but the sectioning of this blook would have to
be so many .times finer than it has been found possible to'
do it thus far, that it seems almost hopeless to try it.
As to duplicating, the .Lumiere's admit that it is
not possible to duplicate by any of the processes thus
far made publio. The only process of which I have heard
lately is by Powrie, formerly of Chicago and now in England
I have never seen any of theftf- but I understand the pror-
cess was offered the Lumiere's and their representative
( in this country tells me thatbtho rosults are "rotten1!.
Neither the American nor the English nor the German office
havo as yet brought forth any patent which conflicts with
the principles as established in my application of Feb. 28 ,
1907', namely, that in the process of copying a . oolorod
negative1 on a grained film.it is noeessary to interpose
between the source, of light and the negative , or between
the negative and the posit ivo; mono -chromat io screens as
described in the above mentioned application. The British
office has shown that colored sectors were used, but as
.0
these are not made ih suitable colors, and as moreover,
-5-
[ATTACHMENT]
sectors are not at all essential, but are merely a con¬
venient way of arranging the colors in a lens, this would
neither prevent me from using the proper colors, nor
allow any one else to use these colors without’ my per¬
mission.
As to whotlior the out-bloaohins process, ot -that
using diazo or tetrazo sulphonates, etc., offer any possi¬
bility of maieing duplicates, all I can say is that the rc
suits so far obtained have been mo3t unsatisfactory from
an industrial standpoint. The out-bleaching , which is
the most satisfactory ; requires several minutes of strong
sunshine to bleach out the colors and no method has yet
been found of fixing the remaining colors. The Lippmann
process offers many possibilities for prints seen by re¬
flected lights, but not for transmitted, at least X have
never heard of anything that would lead me to believe
that it offers such possibilities.
After duly considering the entire matter, X see n
reason for changing ray opinion as first expressed.
I remain,
Yours vety truly,
I
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Correspondence
Color Photography - Davidson, William N. L.
This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating mainly
to color processes invented by William N. Lascelles Davidson of Brighton,
England. The selected documents are from 1905. Included are letters by
Davidson; John R. Schermerhorn, assistant general manager of the Edison
Manufacturing Co.; and James H. White, managing director of the Edison
Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Some of the documents pertain to Davidson’s
collaboration with William Friese-Greene on color animation.
All of the documents have been selected. Related correspondence can
be found in the "1905. Motion Pictures" folder in the Document File Series.
t
April 20, 1905.
James H. White, Esq., Managing Director,
Edison Manufacturing Co., Ltd.,
London, England.
Dear Sir:
I Leg to oncloseyou herewith copy of letter which Mr* Gilmore
has received from Mr. Baucus and which is self-explanatory.
Mr. Gilmore agrees with me that it would he a very good plan for
you to arrange to see what this man has. You, inkthout doubt, can spare
the time to run down to Brighton, and, of course, it goes without saying
that you want to get all the information you can. After you have made
a thorough investigation, we would he glad to have you write us your
personal opinion of the merits of their schema.
Yours very truly,
JES/twW
Asst. Gen. Mgr.
[ENCLOSURE]
Mr. W. E. Gilmore
Vice Pres. & Gen. M>gr.,
Edison lifg. Co. ,
Orange, N. J.
My dear Oilmore : -
I have just recaiiB d the following cable from Eriese-Groene :
"Captain Lascelles Davidson has succeeded in producing animated pic¬
tures in natural colours results here what price for his American
patent you can have firBt refusal cable to Eavidson or Eriose Greene
20 Middle street Brighton England."
I know Davidson and Greene have been: -.working for several
years on this line and have produced seme results. The last time I
saw any of them, however, X did not oonsidor that the invontion had
reached a commercial stage although it had possibilities. Of course
I cannot 3ay whether it is at a commercial stage now or not, but I
think it would bo worth vhile to look into it and would suggest that,
you cable White or whoever is in charge of your London office to go
to Brighton, which is about an hour's run from London, see Davidson,
mention my name and report t o you the results of his investigation.
As to the value of this invention if it is perfected, you
can judge as well as I can. X os rtainly would not ad*7iso your malclng
any offer until you know a little more about what results have been
With -very kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
\
Telegrams & Cables : “Randomly,
Telephone Nq,'6050, HOLBORN.
sfa "‘A'p.-'* m‘
C/jhoma* U. Carton,
EDISON MANUFACTURING ®o Ltd.
(FACTORY: ORANGE. N.J., U3.A.)
REOE
jN [PRIMARY I BATTERIES AND FAN MOTOR OUTFITS
EI^$^PR(jjECTING KINETOSCOPES AND FILMS.
25 Clerkenwell Road,
London, E.C.
2nd May, 1905,
J. R. Schermerhorn,
Assistant
Esq.. ,
General Manager,
Edison Manufacturing Company,
Orange, Hew Jersey.
Dear Sir,
Your communication dated April 20th enclosing copy of letter
written by Joseph D. Baucus on the date of April 18th, addressed
to Mr. Gilmore having reference to a supposed invention relating
to colour photography and animated pictures hy Messrs. Ereise Green
and Captain DavidBon, Brighton, England, is just at hand.
X am quite well acquainted with Mr. Green mentioned in this
communication and Enow Captain Davidson "by reputation. I some
time ago saw some samples of animated picture colour photography
which these people were exhibiting and beg to tell you that I did
not at the time think their scheme practicable, and from reports
I have had 1 very much doubt whether the thing has been perfected
as indicated by their telegram to Baucus. However, I will be
glad to investigate for you, but before going down to Brighton
I shall find out whether they are in a position to give me a
practical demonstration, and just as soon as I have seen the real
article I will write you fully.
Commenting on Baucus* communication to Mr. Gilmore, will say
that I am very glad to see that he has endeavoured to give you)*
such a correct report of Green's work. I am- glad to be able to
confirm Baucus* opinion. I know Green to be a very bright fellow
and considerable of an inventor, but I am quite as sceptical
as Baucus in regard to his colour photography having reached a
commercial stage. My understanding of Captain Davidson is that he
is the "lamb", who is financing these experiments. Of course, if
these, people have anything that is good and I think it important
enough I will cable you on the matters at any rate I will learn
just what there is to it, and what, if any, arrangements can be made.
Very sincerely yours,
J.H.W./l.D.
(
'£* Cubic Codes Used: a.i„ A.B.C.. commkkcial.
LB S# *= 5A
EDISON /AANUFACTURING Qo. Ltd.
(FACTORY: ORANGE. NJ„ U3.A.)
EDISON PRIMARY BATTERIES AND FAN MOTOR OUTFITS
EDISON PROJECTING KINETOSCOPES AND FILMS.
25 Clerkenwell Road,
J. R. Schermerhorn, Esq..,
Orange, New Jersey, U.S.A
Dear Sir,
Referring further to your favour of April 20th re the taking
of animated pictures in colour hy Messrs. Green & Davidson of
Brighton, England - I have paid a visit to the Laboratory of these
gentlemen and thoroughly inspected their process. I V7ill endeavour
to he as cautious as possible in reporting to you on this matter
as you are doubtless aware I am somewhat apt to "enthuse" on the
subject of animated pictures.
I will say first, that while I do not consider these people
have yet succeeded in getting their process absolutely down to a
commercial basis, 1 do believe that they have made a most important
step in the art, and the results which they have obtained are really
wonderful. In the first place they were able to project a picture
on a small screen about 12" x 16" showing a picture of Captain
Davidson himself in the uniform of a British Artillery officer,
and they were able to bring out the red coat with the blue trousers
and red stripe very perfectly, and also by turning the smooth side
of the film to the light they were able to reverse the colours,
that is to say, the coat then appeared blue. They are, of course,
working along the lines of the tri-colour system, although they use
a single film only in projection and employ no colour screens what¬
ever except two glass prisms containing the primary colours, red
and blue. The film contains, of course, a double image, and when
thrown on the screen the two images are transposed, thus blending
the two primary colours, red and blue, and of course giving the
whites and greys, etc.
The apparatus for showing the pictures is very simple indeed,
and in fact consisted of a projecting machine made uip of the parts
of several types including the Edison, Warwick, Lumiere, etc, there
being nothing complicated whatever. I, of course, look at the
EDISON NVANUFACTURING 0o. Ltd.
(FACTORY: ORANGE, N.J., U.S.A.)
EDISON PRIMARY BATTERIES AND FAN MOTOR OUTFITS
EDISON PROJECTING KINETOSCOPES AND FILMS.
25 Clerkenwell Road,
London, E.C.
matter from a practical standpoint, and immediately asked them
whether or not they could shew me ^nicture on a large screen,
10 to 12 ft., and they stated that/fweuld he glad to give me such an
exhibition at a later date, and that for this purpose they will
procure the curtain of the Empire Theatre in Brighton and let me
know when they are able to make an exhibition. Personally, I am
inclined to be very cautious on the subject of animated pictures
in natural colours as you know so many people claim to have per¬
fected the process, but as stated above I believe these people have
done something very important, and after I have seen their exhibi¬
tion on a large screem I will report to you more fully.
How as to terms - they ask £60,000 (Sixty thousand pounds)
for the sale outright of their American patents, but they are open
to a proposition whereby you would pay them a smaller amount and
give them an interest in the proceeds from your business in U.S.A.
They have stated £60,000 is the lowest figure they would consider
for the purchase of the American patents outright. X may tell
you that their American patents have issued and that X have seen
them. I give you the numbers below, and think perhaps it might be
wall for Mr. Dyer to obtain copies in Washington so that they can
be fully examined by yourselves.
The first patent is Ho. 676632 covering cinematograph
photography in natural colours dated June 1901, and taken out in
the name of W. H. L. Davidson.
The second patent is Ho. 193673, dated February 1904, taken
out in the names of Jumeaux and Davidson.
You might let me know by return of post if you wish me to go
any further in this matter, that is to say, whether or not you want
me to secure an option for you for any length of time.
The next time I go to Brighton I will endeavour to procure a
piece of film and send it along to you. They did not seem disposed
to give me a piece of film on my last visit.
I may tell you further that they do not employ any colour
v/hatever in the film itself and they tell me that the ordinary
cinematograph film is used in the. process, and that all they do is
to immerse it in a special bath which renders it highly sensitive,
2.
EDISON /MANUFACTURING 6©- Ltd
(FACTORY: ORANGE, N.J., U3.A.)
EDISON PRIMARY BATTERIES AND FAN MOTOR OUTFITS
EDISON PROJECTING KINETOSCOPES AND FILMS.
25 Clerfcenwell Road,
London, E.C.
so as to allow thorn to procure sufficient time of exposure through
the red and blue glass prisms.
I shall watch very carefully what they are doing with this
process here in England. They tell me they have already sold an
option on the English patents, and I shall he particularly inter¬
ested to find out who has taken it up and what progress they are
making. You may rely on my keeping you fully posted at Orange.
Very sincerely yours,
J.H.W./E.D.
CONCERNING PHOTOGRAPHY.
BY HECTOR MAOLEAN,
EDISON /AANUFACTURING <3©. Ltd.
(FACTORY: ORANGE. NJ„ U£.A.)
EDISON PRIMARY BATTERIES AND FAN MOTOR OUTFITS
EDISON PROJECTING KINETOSCOPES AND FILMS.
25 Clerkenwell Road,
London, E.C.
Dear Sir, ANSQy/ ''70 if
I MAIN oijfnce. 1
With further reference to the matter of animated pictures In
colours by Messrs. Green & Davidson of Brighton, England, I enclosi
you herewith copies of telegrams dated the 8th and 10th, and also
two letters dated the 10th which I have received from these people.
X think you will find them explanatory. You will note that they
are "Backing water" on the matter of showing pictures on a large
screen. I have communicated with them and advised that paying
£1000 option is quite out of the question, and that unless they
care to give me a demonstration on a large screen as per their
promise we will consider negotiations entirely off. If they come
to time and give me the demonstration that X require I v/ill communi¬
cate with you further on this subject, if not I v/ill allow the matter
to drop.
Very truly youre,
J.H.W./h.D.
[ENCLOSURE]
COKf TELEGRAM Dated 8th Hay,. 1905.
TO RANDOMLY LONDON.
It has teen shown on a large screen as I told you' The price cannot
he the same if delayed Thousand pounds deposit must he paid this
week for option at my price DAVIDSON.
. copy mSEBGHAK Dated 10th May, 1905.
To RANDOMLY LONDON
V/ould prefer your firm having my patents Must know Saturday latest
Am willing to pay five pounds for cable for definite answer
DAVIDSON
[ENCLOSURE]
N. P. Co., Ltd.
20, Middle Street,
Brighton.
10th May, 1905.
Dear Sir,
In continuation of my letter posted to you to-day, I wish, to
make it clear that if your Company wish to retain my interest in
the Patents I am willing to accept forty thousand pounds in cash
and forty thousand pounds in fully paid shares (limited liability) .
Kindly note this correction in my previous letter of even
date.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) V/. W. IASCBLUSS DAVIDSON .
[ENCLOSURE]
•
COPY.
20, Middle Street,
Brighton.
10th May, 1905.
Dear Sir,
Thank you for you r letter dated the 9th May. I wired you
this morning :
"Would prefer your Pirn having my Patents Must know Saturday
"latest Am willing to pay five pounds for cable for definite
"answer".
You will agree with me that it is only right that I should
know within the next few days whether your Pirn wishes the first
right to acquire my American Patents for the natural Colour Cine¬
matograph Patent as it is not fair to expect me to give your Pirn
first refusal open indefinitely and lose chances of having the
patents acquired from other quarters.
I have already proved to you that my Patents are scientifically
correct and Commercial by the result shown you in the Parlour
Cinematograph, and you already know as a business man that such. an
article in itself in the United States would be a very money-making
line and a complete novelty. The exhibiting of animated pictures in
natural Colours in public Halls would be a very large source of
income and act in itself as an Advertisement to push the Parlour
Cinematograph. There is no reason why the above colour contrivances
3hould not give pleasure to thousands and reach every home like the
phonograph.
I repeat my terms to your Pirm as follows
[ENCLOSURE]
N. P. Co., Ltd. J $
I am willing to sell My Amerioan patents and all improvements
on the same Patents outright for the cash sum of sixty thousand
pounds, or if your Pirn wishes to retain my interest in the Patents,
I am willing to accept the sum of forty thousand pounds in fully
paid shares (Limited liability) in any Company or concern that may
work my Patents.
The above offer to your Pirn only holds good up to midnight
next Saturday, the 13th of May, and providing the sum of one
thousand pounds is paid to be before the termination of the above
date as a binding contract betv/een myself and your firm.
If your firm accepts either of my offers as above, I expect
the cash balance to be paid to me within a period of six weeks datiig
from the 13th of this month.
Provided your Pirn decides by Saturday X will get the use of
a Hall and sho w you results almost double life size in natural
colours .
You may see a notice of my Invention in the principal papers
on Saturday.
Trusting this letter will be satisfactory to your honoured
self and Pirm
I remain,
Very truly yours,
(Signed) W. W. LAS CELEBS DAVIDSON.
J. H. White, Esq.,
Managing Director,
Edison Manufacturing Co. Ltd.*
25, Clerkenwell Road,
London, E.C.
Enc-A
I
r
May 25th, 1905.
■Win. E, Gilmore, Esq.,
Pres't - national Phonograph Company,
; Orange, N.J.
Dear Sir:-
Your favor of the 22nd inst. has been received
with attached papers, relating to the' invention of Messrs.
Green and Davidson on the taking of animated pictures in
color. A copy of the first patent referred to (No, 676,532
June 18th, 1901) has teen ordered and will he sent you as
soon as received. I have, however, examined the claims in the
Official Gazette, and they Beem to he very poor and of no
breadth. The so-called second patent (No. 193,673, dated
February 1904) to Jumeaux and Davidson must be a pending ap¬
plication, as the number corresponds with applications filed
at that date. 1 will have a search made, however, so as to
be sure that this patent has not been issued.
■ : ' Yours very truly,
fld/ark.
Prank L. Dyer, Esq.,
Laboratory.
Dear Sir:
Hero is a letter from Mr. Davidson, of Brighton, England,
together with the copy of specifications of patent on Prism which he
promised to send us some days ago. I do not know whether it amounts to
anything, hut send it along to you so that you can look it over, and
I wish you would send it hack to me with your opinion*
This matter is getting somewhat irksome, as X have had so. many
communications from TOiite as well as from this gentleman direct, and I
want to turn it down absolutely if there is nothing in it.
Yours very truly,
'O. l
TVEG/tw
Enc-C
President,
July 5th, 1905,
Win. E. Gilmore, Esq.,
c/o National Phonograph Co.,
Orange , N.J.
Dear Sir
Your favor of the 30th ult. has been received,
enclosing a letter from Captain Davidson, together with two
copies of a pending application of Jumeaux and Davidson, relating
to tri- chromatic photography.
In looking over this application, it strikes me Off-hand
that the description is very blind and obscure, and 1 would ex- V
pact the Patent Office to require very considerable amendment
before accepting the same, so that the patent, when granted, even ;
if otherwise of value, would always be subject to the attack that I
the invention was changed after the filing of the application.
Aside from this point, it would seem to me that the practical . I,
difficulties of securing even fair results commercially would be j 'J
enormous, and the esroense of the apparatus would be very great, gi
Although color photography was suggested at least ten years ago, |!
it has made practically no advance up to this time, and in the S
• |f
very nature of things, the moving picture art muBt always be many]
W.E,
Gilmore, Esq. - 2.
years behind the art of photography in general. It seems to me
that the situation here presented is so obscure and indefinite
and so clouded by the suspicious eagerness of Captain Davidson
to get soma ready cash for a simple option, that you would be
perfectly judtified in turning the proposition down absolutely,
until some plain business-ill® and practicable suggestion is pre¬
sented.
I return the papers herewith.
eld/akc.
Yours very truly,
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Correspondence
Color Photography - Powrie, John H.
This folder contains correspondence and other documents, including
notes, drawings, patents, patent assignments, affidavits, and agreements. The
selected items cover the period 1909-1915. Most of the correspondence is
between Frank L. Dyer of the Legal Department and patent holders John H.
Powrie and Florence M. Warner. There are also letters to and from Edison,
along with other items bearing his marginalia. The documents deal mainly with
Powrie's heliochromic screens and related photographic processes, including
an automatic film-developing apparatus. Many letters relate to his experiments
in Paris and to tests of his film samples by Edison's staff. One letter in Edison's
hand concerns Powrie's use of the Galvanometer Room at the West Orange
laboratory; others pertain to the commercial value of Powrie's dry plates and
his relations with the Pathe Freres and Lumi&re companies. Also included are
letters regarding the cost and discontinuance of Powrie's experimental work at
West Orange.
Some of the correspondence concerns Willard C. Greene, a
photographic experimenter in the West Orange laboratory who considered
Warner-Powrie film impractical for Edison's kinetoscope; Charles Brasseur,
another inventor working on color photography; and Montgomery Waddell, a
former assistant to Edison. Other items relate to the products of the Lumiere
Co., including autochrome and panchromatic plates, and to consultations with
Path§ Freres, including a letter by engineer Charles Bardy regarding
emulsification machines. There is also correspondence referring to the possible
construction of a new film plant, as well as a letter of introduction for William
C. Anderson of Detroit, a manufacturer of electric vehicles.
Approximately 60 percent of the documents have been selected. The
unselected items include U.S. Patent 802,407, "Heliochromic Plate and the
Process of Making the Same," issued to Powrie on October 24, 1905.
[PHOTOCOPY]
2nd Sept amber ,1909.
Prank DHXR, Esq., •
Hotel Majestic,
• Paris.
Dear Sir,
We confirm our various conversations of the past few days.
We are prepared to sell an exolusive lioense to exploit
the prooess and the produot oovered by letters Patent H° 802,471
issued for the United, States of America the 24th day of October,
1906, and license to exploit the said prooess and produot
for the entire world, as applied to the manufacture of photo¬
graphic films, photographio plates, oinematographio films, oine-
matqgraphio plates and the making of photographs in colors there¬
from. .
We hand you herewith a draft oontraot prepared in the course
of the negotiations which we have mentioned to you between us
and "la Coapagnle Odn^rale dee Phonographes , Clnematographes et
Appareils 4e Precision" of Paris, Prance. We have explained
to you the situation with reference to , the negotiations whidh
[PHOTOCOPY]
Frank DYKR Bsq. ,
-2-
2nd September 1909.
to the royalties to he paid for oinematographio film and the
general linen of an arrangement to he passed between us with
referenae to the exploitation of the produot and the process
for the entire world. Inpayment of such a license we ask the
sum of l»o Hundred Thousand Dollars (j&00,000.-) in Cash, to he
paid at the time of the signing of the agreement. The royalties
as to the oinematographio films and oinematographio plates to
remain the same as set out in the draft contract herewith en¬
closed. Royalties on all other films and plates to he Sixty
Cents (60 oents) per square metre of film or plate manufactured.
We to have a guaranteed minimum royaltyjhyable to us quarterly
as follows:- 1st .Year after the signing of the agreement Twenty
Thousand Dollars (jfeo’,'000.-) 2nd year:Thirty Thousand Dollars
(jfeO»000 .-) 3rd. year :Forty Thousand Dollars (^40,000.-) ,4th.
..
and all ensuing years Fifty Thousand Dollars (^50 ,000.-) per annum;
' . * ■ ■ ' j .' V ,
This minimum royalty- to he due and payable during the life of the
United States Patent H® 802,471.
will prepare ourselves to go to America on reoeipt of a
satisfactory reply from you after oonfere’noe with your associates
fprthapurpose of spending a reasonable time in discussing the .
explaining the prooess and making such demonstrations
tlle 8tata °f the negotiations without.
[PHOTOCOPY]
Prank DYER.Bsq., 2nd September ,1909.
It ie understood that you advance for the purpose of defray,
ing the expenses inoldent to making this trip the sun of Pive
Thousand Dollars (^5,000.-) and provide suoh materials as may be
required in your laboratory, the expenses of any demonstrations
that he required to be defrayed by you.
This we think oovers the situation sb outlined in our
various conversations. »e do not understand that we are offering
you an option on the purohase of these rights or in any way
restrioting our right to dispose of them to other parties and for
that reason we do not mention any time or date as a limit for the
aooeptanae of the terms hereinabove outlined.
Paithfully yours,
[ATTACHMENT (PHOTOCOPY)]
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October 29,1909.
Mr. John H. Powrie,
Hotel De Crillon,
Place de la Concorde,
PariB, Pranoe.
% dear Mr. Powrie
Yours of the 19th inst. has been
received and 1 am very glad indeed to hear from you, beoause
it has been so long since I had had any word that 1 was
afraid the promised experiments had failed.
I am very pleased indeed to hear that the BampleB
were to be sent by the Mauretania, so that I should reoeive
them tomorrow or Saturday. 1 will then take up the matter
with Mr. Edison and will let you know just as soon ub poss¬
ible what decision is reached.
Believe me -
Yours very truly,
ELD/ ARK.
Vioe-PreBident. .
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HOTEL 1>E CR1LLON
•LACE DE LA CONCORDE
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HOTEL 1>E CRILLON
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HOTEL 1)13 CRILLON
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IS LA CONCORDE
rt: Witty: "CRILOWOTELtl
-WA - C7^^U _
f arm Ho. 260.
THE WESTERM PHIOM TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
- IHUORPOKATlU -
23,000 OFFICES IN AMERICA. CABLE SERVICE TO ALL THE WORLD.
EL o war, (John H. Powrie) ■ ll/23/o'j .
C/o Amexoo, PariB.
Samples not received. . I b* there any hope of your sending
them?' ... ' • • • ' . ' '
_ Dyer. .
(Prepay and chg. E. Mfg." Co.) ■ • . ' v •
or READ THE NOTICE AND AGREEMENT ON BACK.
Hr. John ir. Powrie,
Hotel de Crillon,
Place de la Concorde,
Paria, Prance.
Dear Hr. Powrie:
Yours of the 19th inst. has been received, and 1
am very glad indeed to hear from you even though you do not write
ae encouragingly as 1 hoped.
You are quite right in believing that the samples to be sub¬
mitted ought to be in good shape and that it would hardly be vM.se
to submit anything that will not stand the test of close criticism.
V/hen X submit the proposition to Mr. -Edison I want to do so under
the conviction that the prooess can bo put into oomnercial use with
very little experimenting , other than may be neoeBsary to deBign and
instal the necessary apparatus for carrying it out on a large scale.
Of course I know that you and Mis s Warner will do all that is
possible to bring your experiments to a successful conclusion in
the minimum time; but I can assure you that I am very anxious indeed
to put the matter up to Mr. Edison in order that the question can
be decided one way or the other.
I thank you very much for your assuranoe that you v/ill not
die dose the information to anyone else until we have had the
Powrie .
(2)
11/29/09.
1ST. 'John it.
opportunity of passing upon the proposition, and I will try to
possess my soul with patience until 1 hear finally from you vriLth
definite practical results.
Please give my best wishes to Miss Warner, and believe me,
Yours very truly,
•s&o/tm
Vice-President.
A CONCORDE
HOTELdeCRIIXON,
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PEACE Dli LA CONCORDE
JUl TtSldy. "CRILOJVOTEL,,
ill'. Frank D. Dyer,
Orange, Hew Jersey.
Liy dear Hr. Dyer:-
\7e wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of Eov.
29th and to inform you that we are sending you under separate
cover in this mail some samples of the screen film and such
photographic results as it has been possible for us to obtain
under the present conditions of working. Vie have decided to
send you these results for the reason that they are conclusive
evidence that the screen film and photographic image can be
properly united without difficulty and negatives taken and posi¬
tives printed from them and subjected to the heat of the projec¬
tion lantern without alteration, rendering a reproduction in
colors approximately true to nature for the cinematograph.
Furthermore, we have reached a point where further pro¬
gress is impracticable under the present conditions existing in
this laboratory. We find^ in order to secure uniform coating
of the emulsion upon the screen film, whioh is the root of the
present trouble , we shall be obliged to build a new machine, as
our present apparatus is quite unsuitable for this purpose.
She variation in the thickness of this emulsion coating
gives rise to other Berious errors, aside from producing a varia¬
tion in the densities of the photographic image, the thinner
portions of the coating dry quicker than the thicker portions,
HOTEL 1JE CRILLON
2 - Mr, Dyer.
PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
JJd: nUj; "CRIIOJVOTEL,,
ana thiB is an important factor in varying the color sensitive¬
ness.
She portions v/hich dry first, being more sensitive to
the yellow and red.
’.7e find furthermore that these variations are augmented
by reason of our working with too small quantities of material,
bands of film dried in a box being qxiite different from those
dried in a large room, etc. and our present apparatus and limited
space in v/hich we have to v/ork admits of no further improvements.
As we remarked in our last letter these are things that .
would not exist, and do not in a continuous manner of v/orking,
where the coating of celluloid film is turned out commercially,
but are of a very serious nature for us where the experiments are
conducted upon short Btrips of a few feet in length.
It has been our desire to produce some long hands for pro¬
jection, and we endeavored with this end in view to get the use
of one of Dathd's machines for coating the narrow hands. Our
3oreen film having been ooated out and perforated, we found it
impracticable to reooat it again, on account of the perforations
lotting the emulsion get on the hack through v/hich the exposure
has to he made and it is difficult to olean off.
In reference to this matter we wrote Hr. Bardy, their
engineer, to see if he could get a machine or suggest a method
IIOTELME CHILLOK
PLACE »E LA CONCORDE
JM: TMj! "CIUr.OJVOT£I.„
3 - Hr. Dyer.
of improving the emulsifying.
IVe intended to rent or purchase such a machine, hut find
this out of the question. In his reply he advises us to have
the hands coated by loathe, anil says he cannot ask them for siich
a machine, and advises proceeding on commercial lines, as he is
satisfied we have abundantly demonstrated the commerical utility
of the process, and in his opinion should now begin the installa¬
tion of a factory for the manufacture of the soreen, the emulsion
being no obstacle, he naturally points out the advantages of an
alliance with the Pathe Co. to effect this most expeditiously.
Y/hile our recent researches have been most valuable, we
oannot but admit the truth of Hr. Bardy's statements, but find
that it has rather precipitated a crisis in our affairs, and we
are therefore obliged under the oiroumstanoes as we promised, to
submit you these samples first and give you the opportunity of
presenting the matter to Hr. Edison exaotly as it stands. We
oannot well accept the Pathe offer to coat our screen film and
place ourselves under obligations to them, and then submit our
first results to you.
V/e do not feel that it is necessary to make apolagies
for the imperfeotions appearing in the specimens, - the result
of the conditions already referred to, and the dust and dirt
from the engine and workshop that are attracted to the film by
HOTEL HE CRILLON
PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
_*/.■ T, "CRIMWOTEL,,
4 - Mr. Dyer.
the static-eleotricity when being coated.
She samples we are Bending we have marked as follows:
Color screen film for cinematograph. Has been coated
with emulsion, out and perforated, and emulsion washed off.
(Y/ith suitable machinery the narrow bands may be re-
ooated. )
Shis of course is an advantage not to be overlooked.
-A-
Color screen film with weak colors, capable of giving
satisfactory color results with ordinary illumination.
- C -
Positive on normal -color screen 2, requiring extra
illumination for projection.
- D -
Pieces of negative film.
- E -
Pinatype print, (made from plates).
HOTEL DE CRILU
PLACE I)E LA CONCORDE
Jtd: TdlSj. "CJULOArOTEL„
5 - Hr. Byer.
0 made from color screen negative of same subject
as E.
If we are not mistaken you took with you some prints and
specimens of our glass color screen plates, so we will not en¬
cumber the parcel with glass.
Y/e are nov; at a point where we are prepared to go to
America:, and demonstrate that our process of making color Bcreen
on film or glass is practical and commercial and to make such a.
demonstration us^seen by Hr. Bardy, and which he^as engineer of
the Path& Co. regards as sufficient to warrant the installation
of an industrial plant .and we are confident that both you and
Hr. Edison will partake of his oonviotion.
V/e regret the long delay in arriving at this point, but
have not felt satisfied until now that we had solved all the
teohnical problems . involved in order to put it into commerioal
We have a finished machine for the manufacture of the
color screen plates of 8" X 10" in size or under, - capable of
making about 50 dozen plates per day (30 square metres).
We are prepared to construct. a full-sized working model
plant, to coat and finish color screen film of 11 inches in width
and. 150 foot lengths or under, similar to our small modei in use
HOTEL 1>E CRII-LON
o^- /
l£ec~.
d?
PLACE I)E LA. CONCORDE
JJd: SVlUj.- "CRIEONOTEL,,,
here. This will cut into eight (8) cimma hands.
We approximate the cost of material required for coating
with color screen the glass or celluloid, exclusive of the labor,
the support itself and the emulsion, the cost of the plant or
investment and incidental running expense to he approximately
ts&a per 1000 plates 8" X 10" in size, i.e. 333 dozen 4" X 5"
plates, or over 4700 running feet of oinematograph film.
I'his sum added to the cost of labor and incidental expense,
etc., etc. for its preparation upon the ordinary photographic
plate and film cost price will give the cost of the color product.
The labor required for handling the plates or film in
large quantities oan he made semi-automatic and should be com¬
paratively small. Sufficient to say from what you have seen
and read of the process and what you know oan be aooomplished
industrially,, we- allow you to judge that there is no process of
color photography that oan approach ours in eoonomy of production.
Incidentally we will tell you that vie have done some vi ork
upon a method of cinematography in color that involves the use of
the color screen negative, from which however upon a single posi¬
tive film without this color soreen, it shall be possible to pro- •
dues automatically and by natural color selection, a fairly cor¬
rect reproduction of the original color, and at a figure probably
7 - Hr. Dyer.
■below that at which Pathb can ao the machine coloring. ' This
will admit of being projected with apparatus of much lower
illuminating power.
Ur. Harper has made 'a translation fo,r us of Hr.
Bardy'.s letter, which we enclose at his suggestion. Kindly
treat the communication of Hr. Bardy as confidential and return
the original to us, at your earliest convenience.
We are telegraphing you to-day as follows: •
W XuJ
'e&irb'/sesf'A — T^oo^r/e —
notwithstanding this reaches you in the middle of the
holiday season, we ash you to be as prompt as possible in giving
us a reply, for we are now ready to form an allianoe and needless
to say we would prefer it in America, and should like to have it
oome through you.
Mrs. Warner joins us in extending the season's greetings,
and we wish you many of them.
Very sincerely.
[ENCLOSURE]
misii
i o jjf.
30, rue da liirome anil
Paris, December 18th, 1909.
Hi sb Flo ranee Vfamer. |
Hr . J . Powrie . I
By your letter of 14th inst. you ask me to give
you my opinion on the subject of your work. This is my reply.
You have arrived after " long effort and labor,
to which it gives me pleasure to render hommage, in creating a
LSvujl**. 1
method for the manufacture of. fine rdseaux colored on celluloid,
which nobody has been able to do up to this time. I have no
doubt of the practioability of the industrial realization of ,such
S^re.e%s ,0f
reseaux, the machines for making them being simple and easy/con¬
struction. With your rudimentary material which you have used
in my laboratory you have produced negative and positive images
which leave no doubt of the realization of color photography by
the aid of these rdseaux. These proofs are without doubt still
imperfect, but these imperfections must be attributed not to the
method, but to a number of causes independent of the method, such
as dust existing in an unpurified atmosphere, machines of the most
rudimentary type, and above everything else, a lack of suitable
emulsions. How to make good sensitive emulsions to obtain
with your rdseaux good negative and positive proofs, it is in¬
dispensable to be able to give them not only a great sensitive¬
ness, but also to make them with a very fine grain, a very small
quantity of gelatine and a very high percentage of silver. These w
[ENCLOSURE]
emulsions, which it is possible to make industrially by an
experienced operator, are exceedingly difficult not to say
impossible in a laboratory having no sufficient means of
refrigeration and not allowing operation upon a sufficiently
large quantity of material. Everybody who makes these
emulsions knows that it is impossible to prepare good emulsions
without working on many kilograms at once . It would then be
to lose valuable time to try to push further your work under the
conditions in which you find yourselves. What you have done
and the results you have obtained show most abundantly that you
have solved the problem. Shat is why I think that no w only an
industrial installation can furnish results equal if not far
superior to anything known to-day. She Bathd Company would
willingsooat with its emulsions your little bands fitted by the
reseaux, becaxise it possesses the necessary machinery for this
work, but for special reasons which are not for me to pass upon,
you have not thought that you could aooept its offer, and it is
not possible for me to ask the Company to loan you one of its
machines nor even to give a description thereof, without its
authorization. This Company moreover, with its splendid equip¬
ment, has every facility to construct and install rapidly all the
material which would be necessary for you.
This answers I believe fully the question in your letter
with reference to the coating of bands in small sizes.
Yours truly,
(SIGHED) Charles Bardy.
Jan. 12, 1910.
Mr. John H. Powrie ,
Hotel Do Crlllon,
Place Do La Concorde, •
Paris, Prance.
My doar Mr. Powrie :
Your favor of Doc. 21 was duly ro-
ceivod, together with tho various samples referred to
therein, and I wish at tho prosont time meroly to
aoknovH.odgo roocipt, end not make a definite report.
At the same timo it is due you to soy that tho situation
does not look ns favorable as. I hoped it would when 1
was in Paris.
In presenting tho matter to Mr. Edison,
and running over the various papers with him, his mind
instinctively contered upon the request made by .Mr. Patko
that a sample of a moving picture positive several yards
in longth should be submitted, for the consideration of
tho directors.
Unfortunately, there was no sample of
a moving pioturo negative, or at least a print therefrom,
Pago 2,
Mr. Jo]in H. Povvrio,
Jan. lg, 1910.
Tout only the print of a still life picture, and this
v.aa hardly long enough to give very much of an impression
as to the of foot.
I told Ur. Edison that you realised the
difficulty of getting omuls Iona that were sensitive enough
to the colorod rays at '.he high spoed necessary in motion
photography, hut ho seems to foci that these difficulties
are very much groatar than you apparently anticipate. As
a matter of fact, ho scorns to feel that the production of
the screen v.aa only a very short stop toward tho ultimate
solution of tho ontiro prohlom.
In this connection, I might say that he
spoke in tho most complimentary terms of your screen, and
said that it was enormously superior to anything of tho
kind he had ovor seen before. 1 do not make this as a
final and definite report, because one of Ur. Edison's
photograph experts is at the present time looking more close¬
ly into the question of the speed of emulsion, and ho may
fir.d that Mr. Edison's fears in this roopoct are without
foundation. At tho same time, I think I should be entirely
frank with you and tell yon Just what the present situation
is, but I hope moot sincorely that tho experiment which
Mr. Edison will have mado will convince him that at least a
Pago 3,
Mr. Jolm II. Powrio,
Jun. 12, 1910.
good ground for hope exists in the developments of
th.o process from a commercial point of view.
It is interesting to note that ir. dis¬
cussing the question of color photography with Mr. Bra on our
the other day, I mentioned to him tho difficulties which
might ho cxpcctod ii connection with tho slowness of
omulsion, and ho assure', mo that ho did not anticipate
any particular difficulty in that direction.
In this respect of course Mr. Brasseui-'s
opinion coincides v it’ your ov.n. As soon no I hear from
the expert who is making tho experiment for Ur. Udison, I
'ill lot you know , and you can root assured that tki3
will ho just as coon no possible.
Ploaso give my .best regards to Miss Y/arnor,
and bcliore mo.
Yours very truly,
Vioe President.
I'W/m
fan. 14, 1910,
Mr* frarOi If VS*?-,
Sdlscai j£qprfaobwiug c
Orange, H. J.
4s aompliende -With Mr. Edison's end yOur are-*
tfcuarti i fcav4 blade tefev&ral proiLimihar^ bacpbJrimotttb
tlfc VeJekfc* v. fedfalife filk ft^beii Btttoifed* and
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dlt ^ 6pta!t&4i4d aha A^iijyttSLdiS bd tid jpttiarfir
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'ate 4&t Vd \>d iiiikatWed Mfek hdy ootopletot W4
iMMfcft Vs ^4kp.td •&« ednor&l difficulties t'6 be
fed 'ibilttitp' Idih, at 1.1:30 A. M, (no ddtoot eunllght ) ,
k kdkioro Panchromatic $ rapid plate (proba¬
cy 4 Wirt ednelbivB surface tfiim world
%4')v ttkd 4 ^oriojj Ill, 8 %Wff, the
^40 foiling exposures were made to ohoaJr other pnevione
^^pd'etitWA^
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tth fcl
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ape
1/18 fide
Panchromatic d plus W.*Pi fcorteri
&ena ^£iHstii»d S^Sil
lil«i‘ wt*
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fcd*b ope&hrd $-ai
6 Seconds
PabtihrdttBtlo 0 pltid WrP, eda^ktt pliid
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Wffi wtyw pmiij ^ pfi ,?fi
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jWWj *9 Pn/ffutowi jmqw* ? $<?
tto wjij,^ b^fP m .pwtwtto wwPty* W
lenses working $*j tho externa opertuypp @£'p-3,,fi to S>A,
it haa boon fovurd dmpraptiuai to use £u<>h apertures in
general Kinefceeoopp work, ae the nogatiraB have insuffi-
oient sharjBK|BB due to the BmaH -depth of fOous Of Senses
working at puah large aperture a* CO obtain the rO^ai-
site sharpnosO, aporturos from $*g to 2V18 aro nebdsahry.
Also, Ooltr worlt ok error of orer ^ is doaidediy
a oritiOal oonditibn and the poroent of failures therefore
would he much greater than with the present routine work.
An extremely Important point tp ppneldoj? 1b the
adheraao* o£ the go latino amulsion to the film. J,t
has not been determined it the so^een; per ae would ^prt
an unfaTQra'ble influenoe upon thsadheranoe. Celatlne
emulsion will sWip from oblluloid unless the film is
apeelally trtok. akl considerable experimental work
would. Vd hdoaibii^- with tVe Doreen to determine the
feMht iWfeiW Vfeafeeni-t
iWk gk^e as mibi iirib graink mu
J&otieii aoir'4 jhJjiiSL doiapyfcbatiisg tt '
War pafclWW. doeiWidritos t cdf* rapid shutter devifchs,
pooitifo printing, dO-sensitiirtng 'hr development, etc,*.
^>* 1 t toe W Vmlorja&sn $*$« dtoidaret-r
Jan. SO, 1910.
Mr- John K. ?owrio,
Hotol do Crillon,
-loco do 1: Concordo ,
Haris, Franco.
H y doer Mr- Powrio :
Some d: ye r.co Mr. Edison's photogi'uphic
onport, .Mr. Willard C. Groono, oubnittod a report on tho
nub;] cot of neroons in ta.kinc moving pictures under tho conditions
of color pliot ocraphy. Shis too the spool-. 1. point that Hr.
Edison ontortninod tho most serious doubtc about . I nov;
bofi- to onelooo a copy of Mr. Oroono 'o report find also of
tho photographs ho refers to.
I do not protond to . understand the point that hr.
Oroono naltos , but I rofer tho matter to you bocauso 1 Iciot/
that if these objootiono aro not v/oll taken you arc proba.bly
the boot nan in tho world to ansivor thorn. Will you look over
this report of .Mr. Gronno end considorit oarofully end lot
no know in doto.ll what you think hio -objections amount to."
I will then take up tho matt or with Mr. Edison, and so far as
I can toll .ho is favorably inclinod to the General pro -ositi on
providod wo can oonirinoo him that a roasonablo chanpo odists \
for ovorooninc those diffi cultioo.
I'Ll)/ IV.T ; Yours very truly,
V. ?.
THE WESTERN UNION' TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
- INCORPORATED - — . ' ’ '
93,000 OFFICES IN AMERICA. CABLE SERVICE TO ALL THE WORLD.
Sent ©sport* o.r a port Iocb nl'^xb. Doubt o ouooocs dtid^to'
olovmcoc fiul onraloion end aoroon cdhorcnoo . Co .dornonntrato
duooodo, can you cond tnonty aotoro iiovinG pieturo noeotivo
of riovihe object a twonty por second, and.poGitivc colorod
print' of onmo v/ith- orimloion on ocroon?
Dyor'. _ , - -
( Che. Ilf gW READ THE NOTICE AND AGREEMENT ON BACK.
Jon. 21, 1910.
iir. John IT. Powrio,
hotel do Crillfin,
f'laeo do la Concordo,
Perl a, Trance.
Hy door lir. fowgic:
I m in rooolpt of your c;.blogrom of tho
21st, reading ;o follows:
"Color cihomutography abaolut ly dcnonotratod.
ITavo concitisod twenty motors Haottr-n film. Fully tinod
negative made by Fatho. fwonty ospoou.res p or nooond tlirough
our color aorcon. Can demonstrate samo for you with oanl-
oion on acroon. "
I immodiatoly sent for Mr. Miaon's photographic
export , i.Er. Groono, whoso report I cont you laot night, and
allowed title c-'blngr: m to him. Ho was naturally mono or
loco shoptionl, a a l find that ho io vory firm in tho opinion
that the difficult! oa pointod out by him in hia roportaro roally
very great. I oooura to mo that tho only thing to do v/aa to
have you metre tho domonatration you roforrod to end I h. vo
thoroforo cablod you ao follows:
"Sont o sport a roporfc laot night. Doubt a cv.ccoob •
duo to slownocs and emulsion and aoroon adhcronco. Domon.-
atrato auocooa
, onn you pond twenty motcra moving pioturo
negative of moving object a twonty por aooond, and poaitivo
colorod prints of sano with omulaion op do ■oon?"
I hope that you will bo ab lie to do this without unduo
£
^difficulty, booauo.o it '.would radio my tonic of presenting the
wliolo quoation to Mr. Edison in o fovoro'blo light nucli oaaior.
I do not want to liavo anything -tcrnod down th-it nny Ir.tor on
dovolop in tho hands of our competitors, and I -till have a
Tory strong faith in all that you and Llics Y/nrnor told no in
Paria. At any rate, uhatovor my l>o tlio outeono, i an
doing all that I can to have tho procoso prooented hero in tho
moot favorable light.
Yours very truly,
ELI)/ ITT
7ioo- rooidont.
^...January 23rd , 10
PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
JM: T4lty "CRJLOMOTELn .
Mr. Frank 1. Dyer,
My dear Mr. Dyer:-
We wiBh to acknowledge receipt of your letter of ...
January 12th, in whioh you say that Mr. Edison apprehends the diffi¬
culty of obtaining sufficient sensitiveness in the emulsion for moving
pictures are greater than we think for, and that the making of the
color screen is hut a short step toward the solution of the problem;
In our researches throughout Europe for colors for filters,
for emulsion and for sensitizers, we have gone to the fountain head
to investigate and obtain what vie needed and have had the assistance
of the most expert chemists in the preparation of oolor-sensitizers
as rwell as emulsion, and are thoroughly equipped not only to demon¬
strate all we have claimed, but are ready to commence the construction
and installation of a plant for the production of color soreen film
for the hand oamera or the cinematograph and a practical scheme for
plates and paper pictures in color. On the evening of July 19,
1908, we exhibited before the French Photographic Society some of our
color screen plate pictures, one of which was the figure of a man
jumping pver a flower bed, the exposure having been made in less than
a twenty-fifth of a second, the emulsion used was not faster than that
made by Cramer Dry Plate Co. - Seed Oo. - or Eastman film, but by the
sensitizers and the physioal treatment of the plates the color. ^sensi¬
tiveness was augmented to suoh a degree that the use of a compensating
HOTEL »E CRILLON
HOTEL 11E CRILLON
- 2 -
PLACE I>E LA. CONCORDE
Jta: T<U4yt "CRILCWOTSL,,
filter was rendered mine pessary .
Phis and other specimens were subsequently exhibited before the
Koyal Photographic Society in Iionaon, ana attracted much attention
throughout the entire photographic woria as aemonstrating the possibili
ties of color cinematography by means of our screen plate if it oouia
be applied to film.
One of the engineers of Path& Co. was present and saw the slide
projected and asked for an interview with us afterward. We did not
see him at that time, as we left for Munich a few days after, where
he wrote us urging the importance of hie business with us.
When we returned to Paris and had a meeting with Pathfe Co. the
following spring, it was not a question of rapidity of the emulsion
so muoh as the fineness of the screen that would obtrude itself on
the piotures when they were projected.
We further told Path& that we preferred a deal that would take
over by one concern the entire business of making color plates and
films both for the hand camera as well as oinematograph, and we asked
him to make us a proposition.
He assured us there would be no difficulty about handling the
whole thing, but he must have something to show to the board of the .
Cinematograph Co.
After two months of work in experiments to determine whether
PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
h6tel »e crillon
Jkt) Ttlty "CRILCWOT11Lk\
- 3 -
wa oould put the color screen on oelluloid, we deoiled that suooese
would only he obtained hy the construction of special machinery for
the purpose and some considerable time in experiment. Before we
would go into it j we wished an understanding with Pathb and his
board, and a meeting was held and the specimens exhibited and the
affair thoroughly gone into.
She board was divided in its opinion as to taking up the whole
thing, but they were unanimous in considering the scheme for the cine¬
matograph in color and offered us all facilities to proeeoute experi¬
ments. The question of rapidity by emulsion and fineness of screen
were the main points on which the suooess of the project hinged, and '
we agreed to demonstrate these things.
Two months more of experiments followed to demonstrate that
the screen upon oelluloid was possible and could be made sufficiently
fine as not to mar the projected image.
We had finally succeeded in demonstrating both of these things.
In the first place it takes a 600 line color screen for the standard
lantern slide and the oiue.matograph image is fully 10 times as small;
for the same size image in projection we need a screen on the film 10
timeB as fine. As to the speed we suggested that Mr. Path& sensitize
some. Eastman film and have his engineers take a negative upon it, inter¬
posing our color screen behind the objective; this was done and as we
cabled you some twenty metres of film were exposed at about 20 per
HOTEL
CRILLON
PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
-Xd: TdUji "CRJLOJVOTEL„ '
seoond, ana a pieoe of this film we enolose. V/e projected an im¬
pression of our soreen model on oelluloid showing that the screen
was sufficiently fine being 16 times finer than that of the glaBS
plates.
Mr. Paths ana his engineers expressed great satisfaction at
the result ana a committee of the hoard met us to discuss the condi¬
tions of a oontraot, Mr. Ivatts arguing that before any money
should be paid down by the Company they should see three metres of
positive film in color projected before them, the negative being taken
•in Mr. PathS' s presenoe.
They agreed to supply all faoilities to further the experiments
ana a suitable negative emulsion as fast as that of Eastman Kodak Co.
as well as the positive emulsion.
We proceeded at our own expense to work out the details of
the process of making the film, preferring not to go to Vincennes,
and established ourselves in the laboratory at 30 rue Miromesnil in
Paris. Nearly Bix months of work followed in the perfection of the. .
apparatus and making the soreen on oelluloid,' bringing us to the moment
of your arrival upon the scene.
The Path& Co. have loaned us apparatus and. frequently supplied
us with samples of negative and positive emulsion, some of this emul¬
sion has been specially made for us and muoh of it, all the negative
'/e,.
HOTEL »E CRILLON
PLACE DE LA. CONCORDE
-Xil: TMji “CJULOMOTEJ,, 1
emulsion in fact supplied from Photographic dry plate manufacturers
has been their commercial product intended for coating glass plateB.
How the difficulty at this moment existing in our corres¬
pondence is largely due to the fact that we have not given you a clear
understanding of the situation, and we ask you to, pardon us if we go a
little into seemingly unnecessary details in order to leave nothing
vague or obscure with regard to this affair.
The Cinematograph; Company of Paths have themselves facilities
for coating hands of celluloid 22 inches wide and also narrow hands
the width of the cinema film, which have already been perforated, the
coating being applied between the perforations.
The apparatus employed for coating the large bands applies
the emulsion upon the underside of the film, whioh passes under a roller
running in an emulsion though
HOTEL UK CRILLON
PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
■Ad: nitty; "CJULOJIOTEL„ j
as we have illustrated herewith. The essential points in coating
celluloid in this manner being the height to which the film rises,
the consistency of the emulsion and the speed at which the hand
travels in determining the thickness of the coating.
The other machine used by Pathb is of different construction
and ooats upon a different principle, --..emulsion thinner in consis¬
tency being employed giving the same amount of, or thiokness of emul¬
sion on the film.
Emulsion suitable for coating glass plates does not have the
consistency suitable for coating upon celluloid as the emulsion iB
spread upon the plates upon the face or upper side in a level position.
The preparationof.'aihighly sensitive negative emulsion for
ooating on oelluloid is muoh more difficult to apply of the required
thiokness upon the celluloid than it iB upon glass.
An emulsionist who can make a very good emulsion of the
consistency required for ooating glass plates always finds that his
method of treatment in the preparation of the emulsion has to be
altered in order to secure the same high sensitiveness if this emul¬
sion is to be coated upon oelluloid.
How recently £ath& have prepared themselves very rapid nega¬
tive emulBion for ooating in their small maohine for the oinematograph
bands, and we have also learned they have secured an expert in color
- - - J,
HOTEL DE CRILLON
PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
-5 dl T<SUj.- ”CRlLCWOTEL„
- 7 -
photography and are prepared to take our soreen film and make this
demonstration themselves.
Mr. Marette sent us some of their negative emulsion whioh we
tried and found while it was sufficiently sensitive for oolor cinema¬
tography was too thin#: and we sent out a hand we had coated to show
them that we could not hope to get a strong enough image with such a
thin coating.
They telephoned in to the laboratory for Mr. Bardy and asked
him to bring the emulsion out to them, when he returned he brought .
with him several metres of cinematograph film properly coated with
'(
this emulsion, and he showed it to us saying, why will you not send
your film to them and let them make the demonstration they have asked
for and which they are anxious to do?
ffe have agreed to give Mr. Bardy Borne of our film to be coated
next Saturday, but of course we shall not be able to get their results
and send them to you.
How the situation is this, we have a process for making this
soreen film and rendering ordinary rapid emulsion - suoh as can be
obtained oommeroially, - sufficiently oolor sensitive to take moving
pictures through our oolor soreen, but we have neither a suitable
place to ooat our. soreen film with emulsion and sensitize it subse¬
quently or a suitable machine to ooat it if we had the place and the
emulsion.
On the other hand besides the Path& Co. there are several
HOTEL DE CRILLON
PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
JJd: TiUj! "CRILOJfOTEl,„
firms hare in Europe who have such facilities to make ana coat cellu¬
loid film similar to the Eastman Kodak Co. or .Anthony & Soovill. They
of oourse will not oo-operate with us to make a demonstration for a
competitive house.
How you people are oertainly sinoere in this affair and we
would rather deal with an American firm, than with a foreign house
on the whole proposition, ana while we will positively not agree to
go into any prolonged unnecessary experiments which we do not think
you expeot or would ask of us, we are willing to do as much for you
in Orange as we have agreed to ao for Path& or any one elBe.
The construction of a rudimentary apparatus suitable for
coating our prepared soreen film should not take more than two or three
weeks, and you certainly have or should he able to provide a suitable
place for coating , sensitizing and demonstrating the production of mov¬
ing pictures in oolors on our prepared bands.
As to the emulsion if you oannot obtain such an emulsion as
is required and whioh can be made by Cramer Dry Plate Co. or Anthony &
Soovill, you oertainly can get an emulsionist who can with our assis¬
tance prepare auoh emulsion, whioh we will subsequently render highly
oo lor sensitive and coat upon the soreen film, employing our sensitizer
to attain this result.
: To carry out this plan you should provide us with an abso¬
lutely dark room, 10 or 12 feet wide by 18 or 20 feet in length, fur¬
nished with a long laboratory table on one side, equipped with sink
HOTEL he crillon
PLACE
DE LA CONCORDE
- 9 -
and running water ana provided with gas and eleotrio light; we would
install the ooating apparatus, sensitizing ana drying box, the latter
should have an eleotrio ventilator and eleotrio heater. Ihe ooating
machine is a simple wooden frame work of rollers ana pulleys operated
hy a small eleotrio motor. This would incur anlexpense of a few
hundred dollars, and we will go to Orange and demonstrate our prooess
of making screen film, and bring some of our prepared film which we
will emulsify, sensitize ana expose with your assistance and a
few yards of moving picture film in oolors.
By energetio work this should not take more than three or
four weeks to oarry out during which time some agreement could be
reached on the proposition.
In order to do what you have asked we should be obliged to
find some plaoe in Paris or elsewhere and have it equipped as described
which you will agree would be an unnecessary waste of time for both of
us .
Your reference to screen aaheranoe we take it, is laok of
adherence to the film of the screen or of the emulsion to the screen.
We have bands of film made over six months ago whioh have
been coated with emulsion, out, perforated, exposed and developed, -
washed, fixed and dried, wound and projected and repeatedly rewound
without showing the slightest tendency to separate. She adheranoe
•sggjr
HOTEL »E CRILLON
- 10 -
MjA.CE DE LA CONCORDE
nify "CJUIWOTEI,,,
and refractive index of the screen, varnish, and emulsion is perfect.
Please let us have your final decision hy cable as. soon as
possible.
With kindest regards, we are
Very sincerely,
/-'a.
HOTEL J>R CRILLON
PLACE WE LA CONCORDE
Jill: 1 Vttyi “CJiir.OjVOTEL,
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'.It. John Bov/rlc,
Hotel do Crillon,
Piece tic 1c Concorde ,
::cris, -raneo.
Dear 'r. Pov/ric:
Your cablegram of c DSnfl nit. bene duly to
hard, and X have delayed answerin'- you because I thour.-ht it wise
to v,’c.it until you lied had the opportunity of considering :ir.
Greene ' c report. By this tine you have probably received the
roport end have :"or:ncd some idea as to the seriousness of the
criticisms that :.:r. Greene sots forth. 1 have therefore cabled
you to-day as’ follows:
"Huvo you roooivod ontpert 1 s report? If so, how
serious are c i tic-inns?"
I will expect to hear fron you tolling me just whet you
thinl: of the points that Mr. Greene raises anc! whether you regard
then as difficulties that eon ho practical-’ y overcome.
Yours very truly,
Vice- President .
HOT1EJL IJE CRILLON
u/> SSL. . fL_ . jg /a
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PLACE 0E LA CONCORDE
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POSTALTELEGRAPH
CABLEGRAM ^
[CABLES
'OLUK.
ouiuiueu lurougu tue vompauy'B oitices, and not by DIRECT appllcati
POSTALTELEGRAPH
COMMERCIAL CABLES
CABLEGRAM
ess ^“ZYMOTIC, N EW^O RJC tfg
Z STUYVESANT.
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT
a&u
OF THE
NATIONAL PHONDGHAPH CO.
EDISON MANUFACTURING CD.
HATES MANUFACTURING CO.
10 Fifth Avenue.
. Ffank 1. Dyer, President,
National Phonograph Co.,
;e, H. J.
In aooordanoe with your instruotions ,
Araexco, Paris," as follows i
Yours very truly,
dL^r K onager, Foreign Department.
Feb. 5, 1910.
Mr. Frank I>. Byor,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, II. J.
Bear Sir:
As requested, I have reviewed the correspondence and
material in re Wamer-Powrie process, and in view of such
give the following opinion as to the possible adaptability to
the Kinetoscope work.
If Mr- Powrie has sensitized Eastman film so that it is
equal in values to the Wrat t en- F/ainv/r ight plate he has produced
a sufficiently sensitive surface for cinematography in colors.
Using color screen film without compensating filter
(probably by incorporating a suitable yellow dye-stuff in the
sensitizer) reduces tho necessary exposure very materially
but neglects the necessity of compensation due to variable light.
Those two conditions combined with the use of lens systems work¬
ing at the external apertures of F-3.5 to F-4. 5 would certainly
permit of fully timed exposures.
If the question of adherence may be absolutely elimi¬
nated, as Mr. Powrie claims, the process in one to two years time
ought to become a dangerous business proposition in the hands of
a competitor.
Under the conditions spocified above, I continue to doubt
that , the order of work done could approach tho standard require¬
ments of the Edison Kinetoscope film service for several years.
Also, I wish to emphasize tho fact that there are to¬
day at least five other similar color devices perfected which
likewise may be applicable to Kinetoscope film. Of all the
(2)
processes, one certainly cannot but admit the V/arnor-Powrie to
be in the most advanced state of mechanical perfection to-day.
Yours respectfully.
THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY,
_ _ _ -INCORPORATED- - -
23,000 OFFICES IN AMERICA. CABLE SERVICE TO ALL THE WORLD.
Paris, Pel). 4, 1910
Eastman here soliciting proposition Pov/rie.. -Dp; J
you wishPowrio sail .immediately Orange for \ '
demonstration 'of? Asks only five 'thousand' dollars,.,. ^ Jr
without further obligation on your part. ^t/ \
■ Denarf&r./'.
- Xf.Tvu^ Ikfc. ,Asft-f bJl&jQe. LLf-tP-e-C-gt) &c,^ _
— 1 QsL~£e KfcPCrwa — Gut. Of ~2~ efi^
_l_Lko^ (?Tt&^ IcX-M^-A <~T^. VCA-U>Q€»-tJ-£^ _ :
- — (-OcL.(L H& ^(£o-oir '°r~ c*- j ^cnj-yfJunu
_AM-ct-wZ.Ce1 ^Ltsv<*aJ£e*A-J? , <1^ ufc 1/ug. cQe-a^e^T i
L Bvffia. Z X^-fL ft«e> _■ I
(a) C-^-^- 0.£^l) C/?5i-t-A-^r^Z. !
-Coll Porcrio coao. conditional v<p :'liavo option to', tuy
. • # '■ /
if they. satisfy ns. ■■ Aetins^on ny own responsibility and
hopo Powrio onro -suocccs. . ..
r READ THE NOTICE AND AGREEMENT ON BACK. J
THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY,
; - INCORPORATED r - = -
23,000 OFFICES IN AMERICA. CABLE SERVICE TO ALL' THE WORLD.
ROBERT C. CLOWRY, President and Qeheral Manager.
Fob. 8,' 1910-
* ■S’lopd.r' ..( John 'H. ;Pot7T±o )
' C/o Aniozco, Pario- ' - • . v
. . Bill son' t olographs ' from • Florida . .will agre e Vo. aomonstrOtioa <
uiiaorotandinG \7G havo option to ,buy ori: projiosod terms If test's •
:;-qatiofactory. ' Do yop. want ; pojjjent oh appoinit' for’ bspqiacbs?;
;Hiiyo tireoa Ddiadn VG^y strongly antL- hop®/ you; fool certain of , V
. suocobs.
EDISON MANUFACTURING CO.
MAIN OFFICE AND FACTORY
ORANGE, N.J.
EDISON PROJECTING KINETDSCDFES AND FILMS.
A
( u
^.EdS-,
mSi
Mr. Thomas A. Edison,
Port Myers, Florida.
Bear Mr. Edison:
Your telegram of yesti
lOWS :
"Am willing to risk five thousand ^n^Yamer
Do they give option to huy if they satisfy ,us
I immediately telegraphed y^d^fe^follb^f^'*** f
"Will cable Powrie to come, conditional that option
to huy shall be given if they satisfy us; that was understood, ,
but will make certain. "
The following was then immediately sent to Hr. Powrie
in Paris:
"Edison telegraphs from Florida will agree to demonstra¬
tion, understanding we have option to buy on proposed terms if
tests satisfactory. Do you want payment on account for expenses?
Have urged Edison very strongly and hope you feel certain of suc¬
cess. "
After writing you regarding this matter and on February
4th I received a cable / from a friend of mine in Paris, a lawyer,
who is acting as counsel for Mr. Powrie, saying:
"Eastman here soliciting proposition Powrie. Do you.
wish Powrie sail immediately Orange demonstration? Asks only
five thousand dollars, without further obligation on your part."
After receiving your cablegram I cabled him:
i
(Pliomas A. Edison.
2/8/10.
iz\
"loll Powrio come, conditional wo have option to buy
if they satisfy ns. Acting largely on my ov,n rosponsihility
and hope Powrie sure success."
X have already served notice on Hr. Brassour that wo v/ill
not continue the contract with him after March 10th, and if ho
does not elect to stay at his experimental place and huy the
apparatus from us and assume the rent, that would he a good plheo
for Hr. Powrio to carry on his experiments* since it is fitted Up
with all facilities for doing this work. Of course it is possi¬
ble that in view of Hr. Eastman being in Paris there may bo some
hitch, but I will keep you fully informed of the situation.
lours very truly,
pld/iot
SEND the following message subject to the terms l
on baek hereof, whloh are hereby agreed to. 1
Paris, Fob.' 9, 1910.
Powrio accepts terms your cable. ' Preparing sail before
end of month upon receipt of your remittance. •
r READ THE NOTICE AND AGREEMENT ON BACK. .
[CA. FEBRUARY 11, 1910]
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in No. 260.
THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
- INCORPORATED -
24,000 OFFICES IN AMERICA. CABLE SERVICE TO ALL THE WORLD.
_ ROBERT C. CLOWRY, President and General Manager.
SE N D the following message sub
POO . 1 <•, 1010.
BllOIKlC Omf,
London.
Go iraBadinfcoly :,a
Co&oordo. Arrcur;od A'
ot ration Cr.M^vo, vjo <\
oo l03!t-; ao \:c. yiir-rnnl:
A it vico r.o situation,
aotiotuvu o.i option £;iv
'•rio, oec John "owrie, Hotel frillon, Plaoo
c‘otion color photctfrapby He noire doiaon-
piarnjjtoo c-poncoa iivo t Hour, and dollarn.
j ndve-aoed. Cannot * -cmdoratond vdiy aeaeooaxy
ico hi ?ownt ■ Goo Ivin, ■ uncertain roacons.
li 7/on advance money, obtain roeeipt on
,’cn in bio loiter to no Gcptombor oocond.
3yor.
( Sont through For. 'Dept)
ty READ THE NOTICE AND AGREEMENT ON BACK. .S
THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
23,000 OFFICES IN AMERICA. CABLE SERVICE TO ALL THE WORLD.
_ ROBERT C. CLOWRY. P
Fob. 14, 1010..
Fiercer, , f .7 j/n j?owrio )‘
C/o Auoxoo / Aerie.
Have rirad London ngor.*, SJtoo Graf, coo yon arrange
Dyor. ^
(Sent 'through For. Dcrot) ■,
ty READ THE NOTICE AND AGREEMENT ON BACK.
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL PHONOGRAPH CD.
EDISON MANUFAOTOHINE CO.
HATES MANUFACTURING CO.
phs . • 10 Fifth Avenue.
Otoscopes N EW VO RK.N.Y.
February 15, 1910.
In accordance with your instructions yesterday, we oahled Hr. Graf at London
GO IMMEDIATELY PARIS . SEE JOHN POWEXE, HOTEL CHILLON, PLACE CONCORDE.
ARRANGED FOR OPTION COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY, HE MAKE DEMONSTRATION ORANGE, WE
GUARANTEE EXPENSES, §5000.00. WANT entire expenses advanced.,' O&nnot under-
STAND WHY NECESSARY SO LONG AS WE GUARANTEE AMOUNT. SEE HIM ,• ASCERTAIN
REASON, ADVISE US SITUATION. . IF YOU ADVANCE MONEY, OBTAIN RECEIPT ON ACCOUNT
OPTION GIVEN IN HIS LETTER TO ME SEPTEMBER 2ND.
Wo are confirming this cable to Mr. Graf.
Yours very truly,
^Si^^tment.
COMMUNK
:iGN DEPART!*
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT
Gl fidwaru.
NATinNAL PHnNQEHAPH UU.
EDISHN MANUFACTURING CC.
HATES MANUFACTURING CO,
EDISON PHONOGRAPHS
EDISON PROJECTING KINETOSCOPES
10 Fifth Avenue.
NEW YORK, N.V.
LONDON, PARIS,
February 15, 1910
Ur. Frank L. Iyer, President,
Nat ional Phonograph Oo . ,
Orange, N. J.
Bear Sirt
In accordance with instructions received from you, we cabled "Flowar,
o/o Amexco , Paris" yesterday as follows;
HAVE WIPED LONDON AGENT THOMAS GRAF SEE YOU ARRANGE DETAILS
Yours very truly.
Peb. 15, 1010.
:.!r. Shoot: 0 A. Edison,
Port 'ycrs, Florida.
Dear Mr. Ed icon: •
Your memorandum of the 7th .inst. , in rcforoncr
to Waraer-Bowrie , has been received, hut co yet I cannot say'
definitely that they will come. • I requested I,!r. Graf to go
. to Paris to make the necessary arrangements and to keep in
touch with mo. As soon as I hear positively that they' are
coming I will arrange. for Mr. Greene to. fix up the Galvanometer
..room, for thorn, cs you suggest... She .place that Hr. Brassour
-now has, would perhaps he hotter, then-- the*. Oalvanomotor room,
because it is all equippod for. espordraants on Color photogra¬
phy. hut tho trouble is that the. lease expires in April, and
I do not think we should go to the expense of extending it
for another yoar.
Yours very truly, -
FED/iffW
pomi.Ho.aeo..
THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY,
- - - INCORPORATED— - - - , , •
Flo war , (John II. Ponrio)
c/o Amozco, Pafis'.
n Graf a oai>Io a.ddroos 'Randomly, Inndon. ?/irod hiin fourteenth- §oij ' . -
in touch vdth Mm diroot. . All Amoripari film ndw Celluloeo. aoejfcat'o.'
Will thio affoot you? . - ‘ '• •* •••' ■
./ Dyor. ’ v./' .
(Chg. Ufg. ) . ' . ' , ' \ ; '
W READ THE NOTICE AND AGREEMENT ON BACK. ^1
WESTERN '((r)/?A/0 WESTERN
UNION Uf Uc^lAMAA^Ay UNION
THE WESTERN PHION TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
SYSTEM IN EX
ISTENCE. CABLE SERVICE TO ALL THE WORLD.
“Via. 1
thoEuropean Continent. AM Foreign Telegraph Stations aooept Messages to be sent
^BSTHRlSr TT3JJ-I03XT.”
-U-
Sg^f
1 No. OP WORDS j
1 V 1
1
RECEIVED
— ^Plf
sn CZ/ ,
- ft
mo i
2T X^7’7m^=t-
riiiM
aeTdldgr: EOIPHON-P
TELEPHONE 277-89
ies Merchandises
3, Rue des Messaoeries
42 , Rue de Paradis , 42
. February .21s.t ..l91Q.._
. '/#_
DICU AU PI10R0GRAPIIE
Commeroi -i; J U -on
_ Ttt/ HH
A
Ms
^HzTL&j L
Prank L. Dyer, Esq. ,
President
National Phonograph Co.
Orange (N.J. ) U.S.a.
Dear Sir,
I have received your telegram re Hr. John Powrie, but I regret V
I was not able to leave London at once and left on Saturday. 1.
X have seen Hr. Powrie this morning at Mr. Harper's office _ j.
and I understand that there are a number of people who are after
him as they are interested in his process. Mr. Eastman is in
Europe now and he had an interniew with Miss Warner and theyfare
anxious to come to some settlement in the near future. Hiss
of
Warner has stated that to choose between off era'' two firms like
ours and Eastman’s is difficult, but they incline towards you for
personal reasons. I understand that as regards Eastman, Mr. Harper
has already cabled you that he is after Mr. Powrie and I understand
that Mr. Eastman's experts (he himself is in Algers on a holiday)
are in Paris and Mr. Powrie and Miss Warner want to get away as
soon as possible in order to avoid giving a decision of any kind
to Mr. Eastman at the present time.
In my opinion the amount of $5000 ia not neeaea for their tour
to America although no doubt they will have some considerable
Gmymtpue <Sfrnn$<iMii clc ^Jo/onoyrap/e- C^tXlorv F -S-
F. L. Dyer, Hag., _
expenses before they leave. This $5000 will to a great extent pay
them for part of the expenses which they have had here for the last
two years. What seems deciding to me is the fact that in their
letter to you dated September 2nd, setting forth the conditions
of a demonstration and of an option for license, expressly stipu¬
lates that the $5000 are not to be guaranteed only, but are to be
advanced, and Mr. Powrle in addition to mentioning the bills he has
to pay before leaving-and breaking up his establishment and leaving
for America, insists on the terms of the letter of September 2nd
which in my own opinion clearly entitles him to the advance of the
full amount, viz. $5000, You also state in your cable that in
making the payment, I should get a receipt showing that this payment
is made on account of option given in his letter to you of September
2nd, but Mr. Powrie asks that this $5000 has nothing to do with
the option itself, that is with the purchase price, it is in addi¬
tion to the purchase price stipulated for»> . If however I have
misunderstood your telegram and that you wish it to be interpreted |
only to the extent that this payment of $5000 is made in connection
with the option of Hr. Powrie' s letter of September 2nd in order
to have that connection established by the receipt without mentioning
that this amount should be applied against the purchase price later
on, I will arrange to have this put in the receipt so that there
can be no doubt whatever that the amount has been paid over. I
was prepared to pay Mr. Powrie $1000 to $2000 but do not feel inclined
to take upon me the responsibility of paying the full amount and I
therefore cabled you to-day as follows:
•&n
tyutprue <L^/ran-£auu>
ip/e (z>c\\\<
P. L. Dyer, Esq..
"llyer. Powrie Appozzano cremacion advance firstly because many
bills expenses Balanzario breaking up. Secondly because full advance
was expressly stipulated letter Bcchyraose. Asserts advance inde¬
pendent of purchase price not on aanvuring same. Aprehensor Paris."
which translates:
Dyer;.,,Powrle insists ui»on 5000 dollars advance firstly because
many bills expenses to be paid on breaking up. Secondly because
full advance was expressly stipulated letter September^ Asserts
advance independant of purchase price not on account of same. In¬
struct by telegraph Paris."
I shall await here in Paris until I get your cable instfuctions.
Yours very truly,
General Manager
CL cdi^oru
" EDISON
42 , Rue de Paradis , 42
Registered
d. .
Prank L. Dyer, Esq., — — -
President 0IC,F *u Fl
National Phonographe Oo. Commerci
-February 24th 1910 . '/O . /
_ , 1
DICTE AU FiianOGRAPHE I y, * /"
.onal Phonographe Oo. commercial Ediso
Orange (N.J.) U.S.A. | _ SGtfEJL . .
/
.0 ?# /
I have received this raornlne your telegram reading as follows:
“Graf Pay Powrie Oremacion on account of option Ecchymose".
"Graf Pay Powrie $5000 on account of option September 2nd."
and I have made an appointment with Mr, Powrie and Miss Warner and
have paid them $5000 in accordance with your cablegram.
In transferring the amount into francs, I have taken the amount
at the rate of 5 fr 10 to the dollar, the actual rate probably
being Pr. 5.12, and should Mr. Powrie claim the difference from you
he is entitled to it. $6000 at the rate of Fr.6.10 to the dollar
.amounts to Fr.25.500, for which I herewith enclose official receipt
signed by both Mr. Powrie and Miss Warner.
They intend to sail on March 6th, but owing to a few days' delay
it is not impossible, but doubtful whether they can get ready on
the 5th. If they cannot, they will sail on March 9th per ss "Kron-
prinzessin Oecilie".
I also enclose R.M. bill charging the amount advanced to Powrie-
&
^/ranfaMG c)u ^JoforMoran/ e (jJ/bt
•Hfuiyswe K-Sran-paMc
F. L'« Dyer, Esq,
Warner to the Edison Manufacturing Go., Orange.
Yours very truly,
Oeneral Manager
(2 enclosures)
Frank Dyer, Esq. ,
Montclair, H. 3.
My dear Mr. Dyer, ’ '
I see that yon are taking a. "flyer" In regard to the Powrie
matter. If yon Iobo, yon lose it, hnt. If It tnnm ont as yon
wlBh, I guess it is worth the risk.
Mr. Graf was in the other day, also Mr. Powrie, and now that
Mr. Powrie and Miss Warner have, got the five thousand dollars
($5,000. ) agreed upon, in advance, they are busy packing up all
theiy property at jhe laboratory and at the hotel preparatory to
leaving. I understand that they are going from here to Germany,
where, they tell me, the emulsion is to be delivered to them on
Friday the 4th instj, and they expeot to sail forAmerioa in the
oourse of two or thijee weeks, jest as soon as they oan.
I sincerely hopie that Powr e’s demonstration will be prompt
and in every way satisfactory. As far as I oan Judge, he appears
to be absolutely sure of good risults and oonslderB the thing ae-. ,
oomplished - time al/>ne will te.l.
I might add that Mr. Benjsaln E. Conner, of my office, is go¬
ing to Dew York next month and .will be there about the time Mr.
Powrie experts to arrive. As Sr. Oofaner hah Been a good deal of
S'. D. 2. l/i/10.
Mr. PowfiLe, 1 would suggest your calling in Mr. Connor, if, at any
time, there is any hitch. 1 Bay thiB heoauae Mr. Powrie thinks a
great deal of Conner and Conner al80 enjoys my perfect confidence ,
and I think he might he very useful in oonoluding the final arrange¬
ments.
Pray present my kindest remephranoes to Mrs. Dyer and the- hoys
and hoping to see you on the links at ha Boulie very soon.
Believe
DH/HS Cc
■V
/t-^C? (^2*n£iss aaZLc!/ <n*. Sr£t>
> JL o£ y*/ ^
t% Z%) "jC^S
t)j7 stisist-e^tf
£<ZZZ£-~Y' .
sUt-isOC, J&>~ #1*^
^^f,- <J2Jzr,V^ ^-ts'&C <SL -^C^clf . :. .,-X^
, ,,->, rf/Cc~&!o> 'T^Zc.
X
MEMORANDUM
...131
Jy
\ f Proi
Jj*. Wostoe: 3/8/10.
I hand yon herewith papers showing the payment hy the
Proneh Company on Pobrfery 34th of 26,500 franos to Hr. John H.
f Powrio and Mias Florence IS. Tfarner. This Is in accordance with
Ur. Edison's instructions. Those pooplo are to come over here
and will moke experiments along tho lino of moving pictures, hut
the foot that they aro coming is to ho kopt entirely confidential.
Their work will ho carriod on at tho Laboratory.
?. L. D. :
FiD/lWW
3/8/10.
L V ^ l^have jugjr^reoeived word from our agont in
Paris •Shat the preliminary oontract with fir., Powrio and Hiss
Warner has been signed and that they vd.ll probably roaoh this
country about tho 16th of March.; Please have everything in
readiness for them. 1 suggest that you begin to clean out tho
Selvanomot er Boom so as to have it ready for them in ordor- that
wo will not waste time in clearing it up after they come.. Of
oouvbo it will not be neoosBary to make any arrangemontB regarding ,:
partitions , beoause I agree with you that wo ought to allow this
to bo dooided by thorn.
T7o are oxpocting a couple of poople hero about the 16th
of this month to experiment on moving pictures, and .’hr. Edison
hao uggostod the Galvanometer Hoorn as a good place for them to
use. V/ill you therefore please have the baSfe ond of tho
Galvanometer Room cleaned out so that thoy can occupy that part
of the building as scon as they arrive and'proooed with thoir
experiments promptly. You might soo JJr. Groono about this
because ho will have an idea of what room thoy will need.
Donald Harper, "oq. ,
ZZ Avonuc do I'Oporn,
Horiii, Franco.
Soar Hr- Harpor:
Yoxtro of tho 1st Inal; . has boon rooeivod, end I
will ospoot Hr* Hewrio rad Hi do ’"aimer to turn up in a few days.
I ncto that :r. Connor ic to bo in Hew York n$out thio tine and
if :ny hitch occurs 1 will bo very jjlr.a to coll on hir.u
Givo ny boot oooplinontrj t: lira. Harpor - nd your ohildron,
end boliovr no, • . ■
' Youro Tory truly.
V
¥ioo-‘’rooidont .
fad/iot:
(
March 2G, 1010.
Mr. Louie Roichort ,
national Phonograph Co.,
10 Fifth Avo. , ITov/ York.
lloai1 Sir:
Thio will introcluco Mr. John It. Pov/rio, who ic making
ooino oorporimonta Tor uo dt Orango end who r/ichoo to havo oono
aoaictanoo in roforoneo to gatting none goodo through tlio Cue tom
Houoo. Do all you oee to help him out, oooauoo it is yory im¬
portant that tho' goods hhould oomo through ouiokly. \ (
Youro vory truly.
April C, 1910.
■Hr. Ehonao A. Edison,
Port Myers , Florida.
Dear Mr. Edison:'
Your noraoren&um has boon roocivod asking "TOiat
nao final result of ?owrio deal?" nr. Powrio cnrio on about
a wook ego and I havo had o. number of talks Pith him. Tho
Galvanoinotor Room io now boing partitioned off at tho buok for hio
ubo. IThon ho firot oono ho opoko vory optimistically and oCid ho
had ovory reason to "boliovo that by tho timo you got back ho
would havo somo protty dofinito rosulto to show you, hut I im¬
agine now that ho aooo not fool no sure of this booauso tho work
of getting roady for Mm is alow. At any rato, hy tho' timo you
got hack ho will aortainly ho making. good progroras.
HiD/IW:
Yours vory truly,
/
[ATTACHMENT]
SHIS AGREEMEHI made the day of January, 1911,
by and between THE UHIPLALE COMPAHY , a corporation or¬
ganized and existing under the laws of the State of Hew
York, party of the first part, hereinafter called the
lessor, JOHH EUTCHIHSOH POWRIE of the City, County and
State of Hew York, party of the second part, hereinafter
I called the Inventor, and IHS KDISOH MAHUFAC KTRIHG COMPAHY,
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Hew Jersey, party of the third part, herein¬
after called the Lessee, V/ITEESSEEH:-
WHEHEAS, the Lessor is the owner by purchase of
certain new and improved processes for use in color
cinematography and color photography, aB evidenced by
assignment to it of the following patents issued to John
Hutchinson Powrie, the party of the second part, for the
production of Helichromic screens (commonly known in
the arts as a reseau, and hereinafter in this contract
referred to by such name) suitable for use in the manu¬
facture of color images, either negatives or positives,
and for color photographs and in tricbromy, to wit:
1. United States of America: Letters patent duly
allowed and granted on the Edth^day of October, 1905, and
for which letters patent have been issued thereon known as
Letters Patent of the United States of America, number
802,471.
2. Great Britain: Letters Patent duly allowed and
granted on the 10th day of Hay, 1906, and for which
patents have' been issued thereon known as letters patent
of Great Britain Humber 20,662 of 1905.
„ 3. Prance: Letters Patent .duly; allowed and granted
^respectively. on" the 29.th' sday>' of^December',* 1906, and, on! '
Atho 29thr''day of December ,^41905‘, and for which patents have
sb^ensrespeot.ively:,iissued.fttliB'reon>'' respectively as letters '
patent’"‘.o£. France numbers,' 358J746 as issued, and 358,747
as issued. ' ' ' ’
4. Belgium. .Letters Patent duly allowed and
granted on the 16th day of Hov ember, 1905, and for which
patents have been issued thereon known as Letters Patent .
of Belgian, numbered 187,634. !
' 5. Italy.' Letters Patent fuly allowed and grant¬
ed on the 22nd day of May, 1906, and for which patents
- 1
have been issued thereon Known as Letters Patent of Italy
numbered 225,192 as issued.
6. Austria. Letters Patent duly allowed and
granted respectively on the 1st day of March, 1907, and on
the first day of March, 1907, and for which Patents have
been respectively issued thereon, respectively as Letters
Patent of Austria numbers 29,577, as issued, and 29,578,
as issued.
7. Japan. Letters Patent duly allowed and granted
respectively on the 13th day of February, 1906, and on
the 13th day of February, 1906, and for which Patents
have been respectively issued thereon respectively as
letters patent of Japan numbers 10,047 as issued and
10,048 as issued.
8. Canada. Letters Patent duly allowed and grant¬
ed on the 13th day of March, 1906, and for which patents
have been issued thereon known as letters Patent of the
Dominion of Canada, number 97,944 as issued.
9. Russia. Letters Patent duly allowed and
granted on the 20th day of September, 1907, and for which
patents have been issued thereon known as Letters Patent
of Russia, number 12,364, as issued.
10. Germany. Letters Patent duly allowed and
granted on the 27th day of September, 1909, and for which
Patents have been issued thereon as letters patent of
Germany, number 215,072, as issued.
And
WHEREAS, the said Lessor is the purchaser and owner
of certain secret processes of practical commercial value
in the art of color photography, and which are referred to
in general terms as follows:
1. Methods for the practical application of the
patented processes of making Helichromic screens upon
glass (plate reseau) to celluloid or other transparent
flexible supports as used in photography in continuous
lengths (film reseau).
2. Methods for the subsequent treatment of film
reseaux to render them of practical use in the duplication
of moving picture positives in color upon reseaux from
color negatives upon reseaux ( Chromo- cinematography ) .
3. The production of color positives or color images
for chromo-cinematography by trichromy or otherwise than
upon reseaux prepared film but employing negative or posi-
- 2 -
tive linages in colors, formed through such reseaux for
their reproduction ( trichromo-cinematography) .
4. Methods for the employment commercially of
trichromatic process of printing upon paper through the
medium of the reseau image by the carbon process, pina-
typie, three color, halftone or photochromolithography,
the use of which the said lessor proposes to grant to said
lessee:
and
WHEREAS, tine said lessee is desirous of making use
of the processes of said lessor, both secret and as cover¬
ed by said letters Patent above described, in the manu¬
facture of the so-called, moving pictures in color and in
the manufacture and production of color photographs upon
glass, celluloid, paper or other substance, and is de¬
sirous of making practical and available, to photograph¬
ers the taking of photographs in color by the use of said
processes of said lessor; and
WHEREAS, the said lessee is desirous of acquiring
the exclusive right to employ and commercially exploit
the processes above referred to, both secret and as em¬
bodied in said letters Patent of the United States, Great
Britain, France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Japan, Canada,
Russia and Germany, and letters Patent to be issued to
said Inventor in the future, or which may be hereinafter
acquired by the lessor, on improvements of the reseaux
and processes and other devices in connection with chromo¬
cinematography and color photography; and
WHEREAS, said lessor is willing to grant such ex¬
clusive right, as hereinafter set forth:
HOW, THEREFORE, In consideration of the premises
and of the mutual promises and agreements hereinafter
contained, and other good and valuable considerations,
the parties hereto agree, for themselves, their executors.
administrators, successors and assigns, as follows:
ARTICLE P I 3 S I.
■ SUBJECT I, UTSS?. 0? THE ASSIGNMENT .
The Lessor does hereby sell, assign, transfer and
3et over unto the said Lessee, its successors and assigns
hut subject to the express terms and conditions of this
contract, the exclusive right, concession and license to
employ and commercially exploit the said processes above
referred to, both secret and as embodied in said Letters
Patent, all and several above described, without reserva¬
tion and in any part of the world. This said exclusive
right, concession and grant shall Include not only
the manufacture of reseau for making the photographic
plates, photographic films, cinematographic films and
cinematographic plates in color and the making of
photographs in color therefrom, but shall also include
the various methods and processes above referred to for
the manufacture of color negatives and color positives
for trichromo-cinematography and images upon paper or other
suitable media by trichromy or trichromatic methods.
AHIICIS SECOND.
TITLE OF THE LESSOR.
The Lessor hereby covenants and guarantees that it
has by assignment from the Inventor herein procured
full right and power to grant the exclusive rights as
set forth in the first article hereof, and that none of
the patents hereinbefore described has been assigned to
any other party or corporation whatever. The lessee
does hereby acknowledge to be valid the Letters Patent
of the Lessor embodied in this agreement and also
acknowledges the title to said letters Patent herein¬
before referred to to be fully and legally vested in said
Lessor.
ARTICLE THIRD.
FUTURE PATENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO BE ASSIGNED TO
LESSEE.
All future patents relating to color photography or
apparatus or material employed in the art of color photo¬
graphy, which may become the property of the Lessor, and all.
future patents and improvements relating to color photogra¬
phy or apparatus or material employed in the art of color
photography, which may be obtained by the Inventor herein,
shall be conveyed, assigned, transferred and set over unto
the Lessee by the said Lessor or by the said Inventor here¬
in, subject to the some conditions and terms as applied to
the patents hereinbefore referred to.
ARTICLE FOURTH.
LIFE OF CONTRACT.
It is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto
that the life of this oontract shall be the duration of the
certain Letters Patent of the United States of America
issued to the Inventor herein on the 24th day of October,
1905, numbered 802,471, now the property of the Lessor,
which expire by limitation on the 24th day of Ootober, 1922,
and also during the life of any further patent or patents,
additions, re-issues or extensions thereof, of the United
States of America which shall hereafter become the property
of the said Lessor by assignment from the said Inventor, or
which shall be issued to the said Inventor, the said patents
to include any improvement or addition throughout the realm
of chromo - o inemat ograpliy and color photography.
ARTICLE FIFTH.
CONSIDERATION,
Jn consideration of the sale and- conveyance of the
patents and secret processes hereinbefore referred to
in Article First of this contract, the Lessee hereby agrees
t®.;pay to the Lessor: 1. A present cash payment; 2. Royal-
-5-
tieiS; 3. Minimum royalties, aB hereinafter set forth,
j I. The lessee agrees to pay the Lessor at the time
of the signing of this contract the sum of l’wo Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($200,P00.00 ) in cash or hy certified
check payable to the order of the said lessor. It is
expressly agreed that such payment shall be absolute
and in no event shall the same, or any part thereof, be
recoverable from the said Lessor for any reason what¬
soever, nor shall it be deemed or held to be a part
payment for any royalties or other sum, nor shall the said
lessor nor said Inventor, or the assigns of said Lessor
or Inventor, ever be compelled to account therefor
for any cause whatsoever, nor shall the said payment be
used as a set off or oounterclaim against any claim aris¬
ing out of any of the agreements or covenants hereof.
It being understood that this is partial payment for
the time and money spent by the Lessor and Inventor
prior to the execution of this contract and preliminary
thereto .
II. The Lessee covenants and agrees for itself,
its successors and assigns, to pay to the Lessor, its
successors and assigns, royalties to be ascertained and
determined by the Metric System, it being understood that
when linear meters are referred to the standard width of
thirty-five (35) millimeters and one (l) meter in length
is intended, as follows:
a. Referring to cinematographic or moving picture
films, two (3) cents per linear meter for all color
cinematographic films manufactured by said processes by
said Lessee, its successors aftd assigns, or by the sub¬
licensees of said Lessee, up to the firBt five million
linear meters; one and one half (i-l/2) cents per linear
meter for all cinematographic films manufactured by
said processes by said Lessee, its successors and assigns,
-6-
. _ . . . . u _ _
or by the sub-licenBees of said Lessee, from five
million linear metor3 to ten million linear meters; and
one (1) cent per linear meter for all color cinematographic
films so manufactured by said processes by said lessee,
it3 successors and assigns, or by the sub-licensees of
said lessee, over and above ten million linear meters.
b. The said lessee further covenants and agrees
to pay the said lessor the same royalties on any and all
chromo- cinematographic films in which the color differ¬
entiation is due to the selective action of the reseau
image, whether suoh positive film in color carries reseau
or not as are applicable under the terms and conditions
of this contract to the making of cinematographic or
moving picture films in color, said royalties being
set forth in clause "a" of sub-division "II" of Article
"6" of this contract.
c. The lessee covenants and agrees to pay the
lessor on all reseau plates used in the production of
moving pictures in color and upon all reseau films and
plates not to be utilized in connection with moving
pictures a royalty of sixty (60) cents per square meter
for all such reseau films or plates manufactured.
d. It is further agreed that a royalty not ex¬
ceeding twenty-five (25) per cent, of the royalty here¬
inbefore mentioned and agreed upon for all new reseau,
upon either films or plates as have been tised commercially
and rejuvenated or recoated for subsequent commercial
use, shall be paid by the said lessee to the lessor.
III. a. The lessee guarantees to said lessor minimum
cash royalties, payable by said lessee to said lessor
quarterly in equal quarterly payments on the first days
of January, April, July and October of each year as
follows: the first payment to be made on April 1st, 1911:
-7-
During the first year next ensuing .after the signing
of this agreement by the respective parties hereto the
sum of twenty thousand Dollars (§20,000.00)
During the second year next ensuing after the sign¬
ing of this agreement by the respective parties hereto
the sum of thrity thousand dollars (§30,000.00).
During the third year next ensuing after the signing
of this agreement by the respective parties hereto the
sum of forty thousand Dollars (§40,000.00).
During the fourth and all ensuing years during the
life of this contract the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000.00) per annum.
b. The lessee covenants and agrees that it will
pay the sums to become due as royalties, in addition
to the minimum guaranteed royalties hereinbefore referred
to, quarterly and within thirty days after the expiration
of each quarter. The minimum royalties are to be paid
as above stated on the first days of January, April, July
and October of each year, and if there is due an addition¬
al sum by reason of the royalties above enumerated this
shall be paid quarterly and within thirty days after the
expiration of each of said quarters.
ARTICLE SIXTH.
BOOKS OF AC COURT TO BE KEPT BY THE
LESSEE.
The said Lessee shall keep at all times hereafter
during the life of this contract, and until final settle¬
ment of account between the parties hereto , a special
book or special set of books, in which shall be kept an
accurate and complete record of all film and plate reseaux
manufactured by the lessee, its representatives and assigns,
to be known as "Roseau Books". These books shall be two
-8-
in number and shall be known respectively as Glass and
Film Reseau Books. A third book shall also ne kept
for recording the manufacture of color positives upon
glass, film, paper or other substance not carrying
reseaux.
The lessee further covenants and agrees to keep
a fourth book wherein shall be entered the amounts and
prices of all materials whatsoever used by it in its
factory or laboratory in the manufacture of reseaux
or in any of the branches of the work to be carried on
by the lessee under the secret processes and patents
referred to herein.
The lessee further covenants and agrees to keep a
special book, or special set of books, in which shall be
entered all revenues, income and profits of any kind and
nature whatsoever received by the lessee, its representa¬
tives, successors and assigns, from the exercise of the
rights granted by this contract in any manner whatsoever.
The said lessee covenants and agrees to allow the
lessor, its officers, agents, representatives, successors
and assigns, access at all times to the said books for
the purpose of inspection and audit.
The said lessee further covenants and agrees to
permit a certified public accountant named by the lessor
to examine eacji and every one of the books herein above
provided for and to permit said accountant, should he
desire further information from the other books of the
lessee, in order to determine whether the books above
named contain a record of all the work and products
manufactured or produced under the secret processes
and patents herewith conveyed to have access to such
other bookB of the lessee as in his judgment he may deem
necessary to examine.
A H TI C 1 s snni H.
FACTORIES AIIB UACHIITERY.
The said lessee hereby covenants and agrees to
properly biiild, install and equip within two hundred days
after the signing of this contract a factory fully and
completely equipped to manufacture and furnish not less
than four thousand (4,000,) linear meters of cinemato¬
graphic films per day.
The said Lessee shall also properly build, install
and equip a factory within two hundred (S00) days after
the signing of this contract, with the necessary machinery
and other equipment for the manufacture of negative and
positive reseaux upon glass, with a capacity of twenty-
five (25) square meters per day, and shall also furnish
the necessary machinery and other equipment for the
mamifacture of emulsion suitable for use in connection
with said |>ro cesses above referred to and machinery for
coating the same upon film and glass.
The Lessee shall also provide at its own expense all
suitable and necessary machinery, celluloid, paper, films,
emulsion and other materials, to supply such plates and
films for the commercial market.
The said Lessee further covenants and agrees to
enlarge the factories, plants and equipment as the de¬
mands of the trade shall require.
A R T I C L'E EIGHTH.
LESSOR’ S PATEHTS AHD PROCESSES' TO BE USER
EXCLUSIVELY.
It is further agreed that the processes of said
Lessor, both secret and as set forth in said Letters
Patent all And singular hereinbefore described, and all
its future patents and improvements, shall be exclusively
employed by said Lessee, its successors, assigns and sub-
-10_
«
licensees, in the production of positives in color,
whether for use' in cinematography or in cinematographic
apparatus, or in the manufacture of color positives on
glass, film, paper or other substance, unless the Lessor’s
consent in writing to the use or adoption of other patents
or processes is given.
ARTICLE mil.
SERVICES OR JOKE HUTCHIHSOH POWRIE.
John Hutchinson Powrie, party of. the second part,
hereinbefore referred to as the Inventor, agrees to give
so much of his time as moy be necessary to properly in¬
stall in the factory or factories of said Lessee machines
and machinery sufficient to make at least four thousand
(4,000) linear meters of cinematographic film and twenty-
five (25) square meters of reseau plate per day. The said
Powrie further agrees to give to said Lessee the benefit
of all future improvements, patents and processes re¬
spectively made, patented and devised by him for use in
the manufacture of color images, either negatives or
positives, for color photographs in trichromy, or in the
realm of color photography generally; and said John H.
Powrie further covenants and agrees to apply from time to
time for Letters Patent of the United States and of
foreign countries for such of his discoveries and im¬
provements in said processes as may be necessary for the
protection of the Lessor and of the Lessee herein.
The said John H. Powrie, incoonsideration of the
payment by the Lessee to him of all his necessary expenses
and a salary of per day, agrees
to give such of his time as may be necessary (consistent
isrith his other duties) to the installation by said
Lessee of all necessary plants for the manufacture of
color films and plates, or for the instruction of rep¬
resentatives and employees of said Lessee, in connection
-11-
with the commercial utilization of said inventions and
secret processes of the said John H. Powrie in connection
with color photography.
In the event of the sickness or disability of said
Powrie, party of the second part, for a period of over
forty (40) consecutive calendar .dayB in any quarter du'rdng
the installation of the said machinery or plants or the
instruction of said employees of the lessee, the said
lessee shall be authorized, if the said sickness or
disability shall seriously inconvenience it in its manu¬
facture of chromo-cinematographic films, and reseau plates
and of reseau film not used in the manufacture of moving
pictures, to retain for its own use one third of the royal¬
ties otherwise payable to said lessor, in excess of the
minimum royalties hereinbefore provided for, for the num¬
ber of days in which said Powrie shall be so siok or
disabled as aforesaid, but in no case shall the royalties
hereinbefore called the ’’Minimum Eoyalties" be withheld
on account of the sickness or disability of said Powrie,
party of the second part.
If said Powrie shall die during the life of this
contract as hereinbefore defined, the lessor shall in
his place and stead substitute another person, who shall
have knowledge of the secret processes hereinbefore re¬
ferred to, and such person shall do and perform all the
acts which said Powrie by this contract undertakes to do
and perform, with the same force and effect as if the same
had been performed by the said Powrie, party of the
second part.
In the event that upon the death of the said Powrie,
party of the second part, during the life of this contract
the said lessor shall not be able to substitute in his
place a person who shall have knowledge of the secret
processes aforesaid, it is understood thAit during the
; remainder of the life of this contract, the lessor shall he
entitled to receive the minimum royalty hereinbefore
referred to, but no further royalty in addition thereto.
AB1ICLK IKS.
RIGHT OS’ THIS LESSEE -TO TRANSFER THE USE OS’ THE
PATENTS AND PROCESSES.
The Lessee shall notify the Lessor in writing of the
name and address of any person or corporation to whom it
may desire to transfer the right to use and utilize the
processes and inventions above described, or any of them,
and shall forthwith submit to the said Lessor the draft
of the contract which the said Lessee proposes or desires
to enter into with such person or corporation.
It is agreed betv/een the parties hereto that any such
contract between the Lessee and sub-licensee shall contain
a provision by which B^id sub-licenBee shall agree to use
the processes and patents of the Lessor exclusively, and
that such contract shall further provide that the books and
papers of such sub-licensee shall be open to the same
inspection and audit as is hereinbefore provided in re¬
spect to the books and papers of the Lessee in Article Six,
such transfer or assignment of these rights to any other
person or corporation 3hall be made subject to all the j
terms and conditions of this contract, and no contract for
the transfer, sale or assignment of the use of the said
rights transferred by this contract by any proposed sub¬
licensee of the Lessee shall be valid imless approved by
the Lessor.
In the event that any such license shall be granted,
after the approval of the Lessor, the Lessee agrees to
guarantee the payment of the full amount of royalties to ths
Lessor for reseau cinematographic films or plates or photo¬
graphic plates in oolor, used by the sub-licensee, at the
same rates provided for in this contract, and the royalties
-IS-
so due and owing from the said sub-licensee if not paid
to the lessor within thirty days after the first days of
January, April, July and October, shall be paid to the
lessor- without deduction of any kind by the lessee.
She lessee is not relieved by such transfer of any of its
bbligations under the terms of this contract, and any
breach of any of the terms of this contract by any person
or corporation to whom the lessee shall transfer the rights
under this contract shall be considered a breach of this
agreement by the lessee, and the license may be terminated
by such breach, as hereafter provided for in Article Eiftee 1
of this agreement.
AHIiOIi: E 1 JR V 15 N.
i'OTL USE TO BE MADE OE PROCESSES AifD PATKHTS
BE LESSEE AKJ) SUB-1IC3USEE.
It is hereby agreed between the parties that the
lessee will use every effort to promote the manufacture
and exploitation of the processes and patents above
described in chromo- cinematography and in all forms of
color photography, so as to bring to the lessoB the largest
possible financial return therefrom, and will not itself
limit or curtail, or make any agreement with any other
person or corporation to limit or curtail, the production
of chromo-cinematorgraphio or photographic reseau films and
reseau plates or any of the images or products on glass,
paper, or other substances used in the realm of color
photography; nor will said lessee discontinue, or agree witi
any person or corporation whatsoever to discontinue, any
part of the manufacture of the chromo-cinematographic films
or plates or photographic reseau' films and reseau plates
whatever, on any of the work on any of th9 processes or
patents of the lessor hereinbefore described and herein¬
before referred to.
- 14
iH 1 I 0 IS T VI SITE.
PRESERVATION OF SECRET PROCESS.
John Hutchinson Powrie, the Inventor, agrees to prepare
a complete and detailed description of each and all of the
secret processes devised by him heretofore referred to,
as will enable, any person skilled in the art to proceed to
use such processes in the art of color photography , and
this description shall be subscribed and sworn to by said
John H. Powrie and the verification thereof shall be ex¬
hibited to an officer of the Lessee, or, at the election
of the Lessee, to its board of directors at a meeting there¬
of, and such statement shall thereupon be placed in the
presence of the board of directors, or a committee of the i
same, or, at its election, in the presence of an officer
of the same, in a sealed 7/rapper, which shall thereupon be
deposited in a safe deposit box in Safe
Deposit Company under the following instructions, to wit:
that no one shall have access thereto except in the case
of the death or permanent disability of said Pov/rie, or
unless the Lessee refuses at any time to proceed with the
manufacture of color photographs under the several patents,
inventions and processes hereinbefore referred to, in which
lutter event, an officer of the lessor shall have access
thereto .
To further insure the Lessee that said secret pro¬
cesses shall not be lost because of the death or permanent
disability of said Pov/rie, it is covenanted and agreed that
the Lessor will have and procure one of its officers, or
a person designated by it to be fully conversant with the
several secret processes hereinbeforo referred to and that
the name of said person shall be given to the Lessee at the
time of the signing of this contract or it shall be given
to the said Lessee at any time upon proper demand.
-15-
A R I I C H T H I H T E 3 H.
SUIIS.
It is hereby covenanted and agreed that all suits
brought against any of the parties to this agreement or
any sub-lioensee of the lessee which shall effect in any
way the secret processes and patents mentioned in this
agreement or which shall hereafter be granted to the
lessor or the inventor, shall be defended by the lessor
and lessee and the expenses thereof be equally divided
between the said lessor and the said lessee. If in any
such suit the lessor be not named as a party defendant the
lessee agrees that the lessor shall be notified immediately
of the pendency of such suit and the lessor given an
opportunity to come in and become a party defendant to the
said Buit, and said lessee further covenants and agrees that
it will fully and at once inform the lessor respecting every
suit brought against the said lessee or any of the sub¬
licensees of said lessee.
In case any of the patents taken out by the Inventor,
of which the lessor is the holder, shall be infringed or
interfered with and it shall be deemed necessary by the
lessor and the leasee or either of them, to bring a suit
restraining such infringement or interference, the expense
of such suit shall be borne equally by both the lessor and
the lessee and it shall be prosecuted in the joint names of
the lessor and the lessee, unless otherwise expressly agreei.
upon in writing at the time the suit is brought.
Each party to this agreement further covenants and
agrees to notify both of the other parties, or such counsel
as may be designated, of any suit affecting the rights
of any party to this contract, begun by any person or
persons, corporation or corporations, against any of ^ the '
parties. hereto, as, soon as possible after the beginning
thereof.
Each party hereto further agrees that it or he will
-16-
give notice of any intention on its or his part to begin
a suit against any person or persons, corporation or
corporations, affecting the rights of any of the parties
under this contract in relation to its or his interests
in any of the processes or patents hereinbefore referred
to, prior to the eommen cement of such suit.
ASlXC.lg FOURTEEN.
ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES.
The parties hereto further covenant and agree
to subnit to arbitration all matters of difference be-
tween them or any of them relative to the interpretation,
construction and operation of the terms of this contract
and any other difference under this contract; and in case
of a breach of this contract by uny of the parties hereto
and the subsequent termination of the same a3 provided
for in Article Fifteen of this contract, it is hereby
ggreed that the amount of damages to the party aggreived
shall be fixed by arbitration; that in submitting any of
these matters aforesaid to arbitration the lessor Bhall
appoint one arbitrator and the lessee another arbitrator,
and that the two arbitrators so selected shall meet and
choose a third; and that a written decision of a majority
of the three arbitrators so selected and chosen shall be
binding upon the parties, hereto. The parties hereby
mutually covenant and agree each with the other that they
and each of them will respectively abide by and perform
the decision of the arbitrators.
In case of the failure of the lessor or the lessee
to appoint an arbitrator, upon demand of the lessor or the
lessee, as the case may be, the party aggreived may treat
such failure to appoint an arbitrator as a breach of this
contract and apply to a court of competent . jiirisdiction
for all damages sustained by such breach.
17 -
ARTICLE F I J I S E H.
BREACH.
In case the Lessee shall fail to comply with and
fulfil any or all of the covenants, terms and conditions
of this license, then, and .in such event the Lessor may
terminate the same, provided that whenever the Lessor
Shall terminate the same, the method of the termination
shall be as follows, to wit:
The Lessor shall cause a written notice to be
served upon the Lessee, which notice shall state specifi¬
cally the cause for terminating and rendering null and
void this license and shall declare the intention of the
Lessor to terminals.
Such notice may be served upon the Lessee by delivery
to an officer of said Lessee wherever he may be found in
the United States, and in case an officer of said Lessee
cannot be found, such notice may be served by delivery
thereof to any' agent or person authorised to transact
business for the Lessee, or by sending such notice by
registered- letter to said Lessee at Orange, Essex County,
Hev; Jersey. Thereupon the Lessee shall have
ten days after the service of such notice as aforesaid,
in which to remedy or remove the cause of causes mentioned
I in said notice of terminating and rendering null and void
this license, and if within such period of ten days the
said Lessee does so remedy and remove such cause or causes
then such notice shall be withdrawn and this agreement
continued in full force and effect. j&ul in case said
Lessee does not so remedy or remove said cause or causes .
named for rendering null and void this license, within said
period of days, then this license shall be and become null and
void from and after the expiration of said period of ten days.
And in case this license shall become null and void as !
-ID-
aforesaid, said Lessee shall immediately deliver to said
Lessor at the place of business of said Lessee all machines
and machinery in the possession or control of said Lessee
or any of its sub-licensees or transferees under the
provisions of this license.
She revocation or annulling of this license at the
request of or because of the default of the Lessee shall not
revoke, annul or otherwise affect any rights theretofore
acquired by the Lessor under Article Five of this agreement
or under Article Six of this agreement relative to the pay¬
ment of royalties and the keeping of books respectively.
A 3 I I 0 I B S IZ ! 3 S I.
H0YALTI3S HOI 10 HOLLY CHASE OH LI7HSTIHG OF
07/HEESHIP BY AH AIERICAH COURI, ETC.
It is further agreed that if at any time hereafter
by final order and decree of an American Court of last
resort of competent jurisdiction, the Lessor or inventor
shall be divested of its ownership of its letters patent
hereinbefore mentioned or any of them, and by the same
order and decree said ownership shall be invested in
another person other than the Lessor or Inventor or said
lessor or Inventor shall be divested of its ownership
and said ownership shall not be invested in any one,
then and in such case the royalties hereinbefore provided
to be paid by said Lessee to said Lessor shall not wholly
oease, but that the some shall be re-adjusted upon some
basis which shall be fair and equitable to the parties to
this agreement. In case of the failure of the parties to
agree upon the basis for such re-adjustment said matter
3hall be referred to the arbitrators and decided by them
in the manner provided for the arbitration of other disputes ,
as provided for in Article Fourteen of this agreement.
19 -
ARTICLE SEVEN I K K I.
ITAIvIIS OR FILMS AND ERASES.
The said reseau films and plates shall he 'known,
designated and described as"Florence Films" and"Florence
Elates".
A R T I C L 3 EIGHTEEN.
ARRAKG’iHENT OF COLOR BAUDS.
It is further agreed that nothing in this contract
shall he constured so as to prevent any of the parties
hereto from varying the form, arrangement or relative
proportions of the bands of color to be placed on the said
Heliehromic screend, it being understood that the said bands
of color matter may be arranged transversely, obliquely
or in any other manner, shape or form which may be deemed
advisable or expedient, and the number and proportions
of the various colors may be varied at t'e will of the
parties hereto, anything in this contract or in the letters
patent to the contrary notwithstanding.
ARTICLE innSES.
TAXES, LICENSES AND OTHER CHARGES,
All taxes , licenses and other charges that may be¬
come due or owing on account of any of the patents hereinbe¬
fore described are to be paid by the Lessor, except that
the Lessee agrees to do everything that may be necessary
to protect the patents and keep the same alive and in
full force and effect in those countries whose lav/s require
patents to be exploited within a fixed time agter the
issuance of said patents.
ARTICLE TWENTY.
OBLIGATIONS OF CONTRACT.
All the rights, interests, obligations and remedies
aforesaid, either vested in or imposed upon any of the
parties to this agreement, shall be deemed to belong to
-20-
and be enforceable by the executors and administrators,
successors and assigns of any of the parties to this
agreement.
ahcicjiE insn-ois,
CHARGES , AIil'ICHAEIOHS AID AUSK3MSHBS .
5he parties hereto further mutually covenant and
agree that no change, alteration or amendment to this
agreement shall be valid or of any effect whatsoever upon
any of said parties, unless consented to in writing by
each of the parties hereto, with the same formalities of
execution as this agreement.
XH 'iVIEEESS THEREOF the parties hereto have
hereunto set their hand and seals the day and year first
above written.
Attest:
THE UHIPLATE COJiPAHY
BY _ _
President.
Party of the First Part.
Secretary.
Attest :
Party of the Second Part.
THE EDISOH MAHOTACTURXHG COHPAHY
Party of the Third Part.
Secre tary.
*11-
Hew York, Maroh 27th. , 1911.
■Mr. Frank 1. Dyer,
national Phonograph Co. ,
Orange, H. J.
My dear Mr. Dyer:
I had occasion to ride in on the train to
Hew York City with Mr. Waddell one evening Borne two months ago,
and the matter of handling motion picture films and their develop¬
ment was a subjectof discussion between us.
I told Mr. Waddell that I had a machine for the
treatment of films in an automatic and continuous manner that was
admirably adapted for their development, and this interested him
considerably.
Having made application for patents on the in¬
vention I showed the apparatus to Mr. Waddell some weeks ago.
The last time I bbw him at the laboratory some
ten days ago he suggested that he thought the device would be an
excellent thing for the development of the small films for the
home machine. In fact, I believe it is the best way in whioh the
film for the small machine can be developed, as being handled
automatically it may be developed with greater certainty than the
development of films by visual examination, whioh, of course, is
.4
Mr. Frank Jj. Dyer.
devioe so that in oase you should care to consider "trying it out"
for the little film some arrangement might he made to take the
matter up without delay.
As 1 am extremely busy on my own work I oould not,
of course, give very much time to the matter myself, which is one
reason why I have not written you sooner, hut a machine for the
development of this small film oould he very quickly made as the
apparatus is comparitively simple and inexpensive of construction,
notwithstanding the great accuracy with whioh it performs the work.
Mr. Gall, your engineer, had an opportunity to see the
apparatus a few days ago , although it was not in operation at the
time, hut he has a good idea of the principle involved and oould
easily give you some idea of what the cost of construction of such
a machine might he. If you care to see the apparatus whioh I am
using for the sensitization of the film I shall he pleased to show
it to you.
A machine oould he constructed that would handle say-,
1000 to 1200 ft, , .per. hour of the small film, taking it from the
reel, developing, fixing, washing and drying and finally reeling
it up automatically.
I have some results on my own film whioh are very
creditable and hope within a few days to go out again to make
some further negative exposures with Mr. Green.
I am now ooating my film between the perforations, aB
-2-
all my reseau film has been out and perforated, and I am obliged
to wash it off after' exposure and development and .recoat it for
further experiments in inoreasing the sensitiveness or speed of
the film..
If you wish to see me or wish to oome to the laboratory
I wish you would Bend me word in advance either by telephone or
through Mr. Churohill, so I oan arrange to show you the apparatus.
Yours very sincerely.
[ATTACHMENT]
i O'
A
* APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC BATH TREATMENT
OF PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM IN A CONTINUOUS MANNER.
t v
ttA
I
As an introduction to a brief description of
this apparatus a few prefatory remarks are almost
essential to an intelligent appreciation of its merits.
The scientific principles involved in the optics
and chemistry of photography have advanced during the
past ten or fifteen years with as rapid strides as
have other arts and crafts, such as electrical and
mechanical engineering. The application of fundamental
rules governing the mechanical operations in photo¬
graphic work have done much to relieve the operator
from the necessity of burdening his mind with many
details which we have come to learn are simply mech¬
anical, and not matters of intuition or artistic
feeling. By being thus relieved of this care and
attention in mechanical detail, chemicals and formulae
'he Is able to more intelligently give his attention
to the artistic side of the work, such as the light¬
ing arrangement and composition of his picture.
One of the greatest obstacles to be overcome,
however, has been the elimination of the personal
element in photographic development. Strange as it may
seem one of the greatest barriers to progress along
scientific line"” in this respect has been the deep-
seated belief of the jyXfi experienced professional
photographer ^that 'his^ y ears^of "tr ai-ni-n g-andi-lo ng-
nraotice have gi-ven"hlm that personal skill which en¬
abled him to develop his plates and bring out a
quality and character to them that could not be at¬
tained in any other way.
[ATTACHMENT]
This is true only, to the extent that his long
training has fitted him to do these things in a
he
mechanical way, and /.is really performing his work
like an automaton. How much better a machine might
ma
do his work with mathematical precision and leave him
free to give his attention to those things which are
aecessarily dependent upon personal skill and
judgment. The first great advance made in this line
was the conclusive demonstration by Messrs. Hurter &
Driffield whose researches in photographic development
are perhaps better known to the amateur and technical
worker than they are to the professional. There is
practically little that can be done with an exposed
photographic image , plate or film to alter its character
in development. A negative, to begin with, is but a
means, to an end.. It is not the termination of the
finished product, for the lights and shadows which are
represented in reverse in the negative have again to be
reversed in the production of the positive, whether
it is a print upon glass to be viewed by transmitted
light or a print on paper. In an underexposed neg¬
ative the scale of gradations run from the high lights
to the middle tones. In an overexposed negative the
scale of gradations run from the middle tones to the
shadows. In a properly exposed negative the rendi¬
tions of light and shad.e are.. more properly graduated
between the lights and shadows. If the negative is
underexposed there is nothing that can be done in de¬
velopment to remedy what is apparently a defect in the
exposure, for the resultant print from such a negative
[ATTACHMENT]
will invariably show the scale of gradations of.,.,
an under-exposed negative. The same is quite true
of a negative which has been correctly exposed or
over-exposed. As a matter of fact we criticise the
print made from the negative from a pictorial, if not
an artistic, point of view, while as a matter of fact
the under-exposed negative is as faithful a rendition
of that portion of the picture representing the high
lights as one which is correctly exposed. And, further¬
more, the correctly exposed negative so-called, does
not fully record properly the gradations of a picture
in which the high lig hts are intense and the shadows
very dark, for the reason that no photographic plate
is capable of rendering properly the 3oale of gradations
in intense light with deep shadows. It is in this respect
that the long training of the professional photo¬
grapher who has .lustly earned a reputation for good
work selects such conditions of lighting as will come
within the scope of the sensitive coating upon his
plates. There is no better illustration of the truth
of these statements with regard to the development of
photographic films or plates than the development tank,
which is put out by the Eastman Kodak Company. The
amateur who knows nothing of the technique of photo-
of
graphic work makes a series of expo sures^ from six to
twelve or more upon a single band of coated celluloid
which is rolled beneath a covering of black paper
upon a bobbin and permitting of the exposures being
made at his convenience by simply unwinding the black
The
paper supporting the sensitive film, exposed portions
of the film being rewound upon another spool all con-
[ATTACHMENT!
tained in the rear of hie camera, J*or development
the bobbin of exposed film is placed in a box for the
purpose, and the projecting end of the black paper
which supports the sensitive film is nov; attached to an
apron provided with projections along its margin so that
when winding up the paper and film, a space is allowed
to intervene between the exposed surface of the sen¬
sitive film and the preceding turns of the bade of
the apron. Briefly the film is rewound inside of the
an apron which allows room for the developer to reach
the sensitive surface without its being covered in any
way by the bach of the apron. This apron is made of
opaque material and wound upon a reel which permits of
its being removed from the box without exposing it to
the light. This reel carrying exposures which are fre¬
quently made under diversified conditions are now
lowere’d -into 'a. i can in which the developing solution
is placed, the cover put on and allowed to remain for
a uniform and stated length of time regardless of the
conditions under which the pictures were taken, it has
been proven repeatedly beyond question that negatives
developed in this way are as good, and in most cases
better, than if the separate negatives had each received
individual or special treatment in a bath and the time
of development Judged by visual examination. In the
commercial manufacture of motion pictures the long
strips of film some three hundred feet in length repre¬
sent thousands of individual, exposures. The mechanical
means for making the exposures is such that there is
relatively little difference, if any, in the exposures
upon the film throughout its entire length. Apparatus
- 4 -
[ATTACHMENT]
has been devised which is capable of enabling the
operator to predetermine the conditions of the light
under which he is working so that he may adjust his
apparatus to make correct exposures with a very small
percentage of error. So there is no excuse for either
under or over-exposure. With the matter of development,
* if time and tank development were rigidly adhered
to, there should be comparatively little variation
in the results, but in the device referred to in this
paper all negatives could be developed so that they
should be alike in density and almost permit of positives
being printed from them under standardized conditions.
This apparatus for bath treatment of film consists
in drawing the film from the exposed reel by a leader
over revolving rollers in a helical form, these rollers
being driven by a motor and the rollers depending from
a frame-work immerses the film passing around them in a
bath of developer or other solution placed in a tray
underneath. The trays rest upon a table with projecting
pins beneath them which may be actuated by a lever
that raise the tray containing the solution 30 that the
rollers and the film are submerged in the solution.
When the leader has entered this solution the sensitive
film while continuously travelling over the rollers
remains in the bath for a sufficient length of time to
properly develop the film. This, of course, is dependant
upon several things. The number of turns of the film
helix, or in other words, the total length of film im¬
mersed in the solution at any moment , the speed at which
the film is travelling through the solution, the concen¬
tration of the developing agent, and also the temp^ature
of the developer. These conditions once properly deter-
- 5 -
[ATTACHMENT!
mined may be maintained as a constant and should in¬
variably give uniform results, on emerging from the
developing solution the film passes over other rollers
and through successive baths placed side by side upon
the table, such as fixing, washing and glycerine baths,
and on emerging from the last bath the surplus solution
is automatically removed from the surface, the bach may
be properly cleaned, the film travelling on over a dry¬
ing raofc on which it dries quickly beeping a uniform
tension throughout its entire length, thus avoiding any
torts or twists which would tend to produce local
inequalities, which frequently occur in other methods
of handling film and give rise to local variations in
the number of perforations in a given length of film
and in some instances even differ between the edges of
the film on each side and which occasion disagreeable
.lumping in the projected pictures and a tearing out of
the perforations.
The cost of construction of a machine for this
purpose is not great and would pay for itself in a few
months in the labor, material and time saved, to say
nothing of the economy of space and improved quality of
the film resulting from its use in the commercial de¬
velopment of film.
It is, of course, obvious that this apparatus can
quite as readily be employed for the operation of in¬
creased sensitisation of film in a bath, for the intensi¬
fication of weak images or the reduction of those which
are too strong. We would advocate, however, in order
to reduce to a minimum any loss which might be due
- 6-
[ATTACHMENT]
by reason of improper exposure the device already re¬
ferred to for detexmining in advance the proper ex¬
posure for the negative, and also an apparatus of ex¬
tremely simple construction for the determination of
the exposure for the positives, by which the positive
printing machine may be properly adjusted in printing
from the negative^so as to give uniform exposure to
the positives printed from any individual negative in
order that they may be developed together. Or rather,
to follow in succession through the machine without any
variation. It is also Important that in the develop¬
ment that the developer should be Kept at a uniform
temperature. This can easily be controlled by Keeping
a current of water gradually flowing through a pan in
which the developing tray is partially immersed. As
the developer itself gradually loses its energy in
developing long lengths of film this bath should be
continuously and gradually replaced by fresh developer,
and in order that the developing solution shall be Kept
at a constant level the developer which is being ex¬
hausted by reason of itB action on the film should grad¬
ually be drawn off while fresh developer is flowing in.
With a series of washing baths for the elimination of
the hypo from the film the same arrangement should be
provided and it will be found that in this way the film
may be quicKly and thoroughly freed from the fixing
bath. As to the drying of the film, the apparatus de¬
vised by Mr. Thomson of the Water-proof Film Co. would
be very satisfactory, preventing the film from being
- 7 -
[ATTACHMENT]
drawn out of shape and allow of its being properly
cleaned automatically before drying, and after which it
should, if desired, be permitted to pass directly into
an adjoining apartment to be a water-proofed.
For determining a proper exposure in printing
the positives we employ a frame similiar to an ordinary
photographic printing frame in which is placed a plate
of ground glass back of which are a series of very fine
gratings, the area of which correspond to those of the
image on the negative film. A series of these gratings
are placed side by side so they cover individual neg¬
ative images. These gratings must be graded in such a
manner that they retard the light which passes through
the different images on the negative film in definite
proportions; for example, at the top the direct light
will pass through the ground glass only and through the
negative image under it. The second negative image is
retarded by the grating so it receives only one-half as
much light, and the third half as much as the second,
the fourth half as much as the third, etcetra, and with
say five or six steps like this a series of different
exposures may be obtained simnltanieous ly updn a short
strip of the sensitive positive film which is intended
to be used in the printing. The frame should be so made
as to allow the negative film to be inserted through
openings provided in the top and bottom of the frame
without having to cut off pieces of the negative. The
frame is now placed in a fixed position where it can be
exposed to a constant source of light at a fixed dis¬
tance, and the trial strip of film developed in a tank
- S -
[ATTACHMENT]
with the same concentration of developer and for the
.same length of time as that in the developing machine.
After fixing, the series of printed pictures are ex¬
amined and the one which appears the most satisfactory
in the series of prints from the negative is read off
from the corresponding .scale of the gratings and this
reading gives the operator an exact and definite means
of controlling the exposure in the positive printing
machine^with a corresponding scale for the control of
his light in the printing machine.
Dated, March 20th, 1911.
New York City.
When I tried to get you on the telephone Saturday
it was with reference to a matter which I wished to speak that I
thought might he of considerable interest mutually.
During the past nine months in which we have been en¬
gaged working out certain refinements of our color process relative
to special emulsion, we have been seeking information and assist¬
ance from emulsionists in this country as well as from acrosss the
water.
A dry plate house from whom we had some very satisfactory
emulsions some years ago before we went to Eurppe,- are particularly
desirous of co-operating with us on the developement of our color
plates. X have recently shown them some of my results on the color
film, and they believe that they could further improve upon what
we have done. They are urging us to effect some arrangement with
them immediately which they think, would be to our mutual benefit.
We have not, however, intimated that we were negotiating with any¬
one, but Miss Warner and I have thought that before we went farther
in the matter we should discuss it, with you.
In our opinion the use of an emulsion factory for coating
plates and preperation of emulsion for film in color or black and
white might be a good thing. They have been able, as I have said,
to produce results in the past for our color plates that has not
been equalled either in quality by either the Eastman Kodak or
- - - ..X,. .
Cramer Dry-plate Co..
F.L.D.-3
Should, you care to discuss this matter with us it
ought to he done very soon, as some immediate answer on the propo¬
sition is imperative.
Yours very truly,
j,,.
April 14, 1911.
Mr. Jolm H. Pov/rio,
Orange, H. J.
Dear Mr. Pov/rio :
Bef erring to your letter of March 27th, on
the subject of your new automatic film developing apparatus,
I have given the subject serious consideration. I expect
shortly to urge Mr. Edison to consent to the building of
a no v/ film plant in which our manufacturing processes may
bo completely modernised, ana if this is done, a continuous'
developing maohino, if practicable, might be a very desir¬
able thing for us to adopt. Under the present conditions,
however, I hardly think it would bo worth while for us to
attempt such a radical change in apparatus.
In discussing the matter with Mr. Jameson, I find
that he is somowhat skeptical ns to the possibility of de¬
veloping films mechanically without the exercise of the
human element. However, this whole question will have to
be considered when we take up the matter a little later on
of possibly malting use of your device.
Yours very truly.
fid/ i mv
President.
THOMAS A. EDISON,
Mr. Donaia Harper,
32 Avenue ao 1’ Opera,
Paris , Prance .
Doar Mr. Harper:
Permit me to introduce my good personal
friend, Mr* Williem C. Anderson, of Detroit, the manufacturer
of the well known "Detroit Electric" car.
Mr* Anderson goes to Paris on a oomMned pleasure
and "business trip. He is a strung, active ana thoroughly
reliable business man, and if you have any businoss friends
who might be interested in electric vehicles I will consider
it a favor if you will introduce Mr. Anderson to~them.
Any personal courtesies you may be able to show
him will be very much appreciated- by both Mr. Edison and
myself.
Yours very truly,
PID/lTO
President.
Regarding the attached memorandum from Mr.
Huthison, arranged to-day for him to take up the colored
photographic problem with Dr. Powrie and decide what he thinks
of the prospects of success end then to discuss the matter
fully with me.
P. 1. D.
[ATTACHMENT]
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Akr- . C'fnu A0\; dA/u) f&VVU. ^ . S^W^~J .
//?-• Yttyjir i^M-br $tr_ 't^v
November 6, 1912.
Mr. 1’owrie:
Mr. Hutchison to llr. inf. that you have not taken up
your color proceos with him, i a it wrb agreed you v;ould do.
I wish , therefore , thf.t you would do this without. delay,
because • t ia only fair to Mr. lihiieon that ho ahould be thor¬
oughly udvised as to the situation.
PID/1V/V7 F. I. D.
County of Ebb ox,
State of Hew Jersey.
HARRY E. MILLER , being auly Bworn, deposes
and says: I am of mature age, reside in Orange, Bow
Jersey, and have charge of the hooks and accounts of the
Edison Laboratory at V/ost Orange, Hew Jersey; said
Laboratory being the Laboratory of Mr. Thomas A. Edison;
I am personally acquainted with John H. Powrie and know
that said John H. Powrie is engaged and has been in engaged
in experimental work on the Warner-Powrle Prooess of
Color Photography for more than three years at said Labor¬
atory, and that speoial faoilities and apparatus for such
work have been provided for said John H. Powrie at said
laboratory.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this /./^ley of August, 1913.
\C*4.
IIOTAR rTUBUC. STATE OF HEW JERSEY.
COMMISSION EXPIRES SEPT. 5, 1917
JlU. . f«
HA/v— -J-t—- -C£T Cff (
■ V ^ •
H
[ATTACHMENT!
A short affidavit from one of the Edison people which
will show t.ha’t^ preliminary agreement was entered into between
the Warner-Powrte people and the Edison people, and that that
agreement is being carried ouU^That Mr.Powrie and his associates
are carrying on tests and making preparations for the coinrnercla 1
use of the Warner-Powrle process of color photograph*!. That the
Edison people have provided at their general laboratories at West
Orange, N..T. a building as a special laboratory for the carrying on
of the pea preliminary work and have paid considerable sums of
money for apparatus and supplies^/ That, the final contract has not
'yet been signed, or any money paid upon any such final arrangement,
or in anticipation of final payments to be made under such final
contract. That, the execution of the final contract is dependent
to a large extent upon the testB of the process and its adaptability
to commercial use.
JH ,r'
Bacon & Melans
(EmwmeUors at Earn
SOLICITORS IN PATENT AND TRADE-MARK CAUSES
McGill Building, 008 G Street, Northwest
WASHINGTON, B. C.
February 24, 1914.
Delos Holden, Esq .,
New York City .
Dear Sir:
Title search re. Powrie patent.
We are in receipt of your telegram of even
date reading as follows:
"Mail tonight abstract title patent eight
nought two four seven one Powrie,"
We have accordingly examined the assignment
records of the Patent Office in regard to thiB matter,
and as a result we find that Powrie assigned his entire
right, tit)le and interest to the Uniplate Company.
' on record
This is the only instrument /ns have been able to find
affecting the title of this patent.
An abstract of this assignment is enclosed
herewith.
Very truly yours,
Diet. PT - M.
P. S. Kindly advise us against whom to make
this charge .
B & M.
25 February 1914,
Mr. Hardy, Legal Department ,
Thomas A. Edison Incorporated,
Orange, N.J.
Dear Sir , -
In response to an Inquiry concerning the nature of an
action pending In our Supreme Court, New York County, against the
Unlplate Company, Florence M, Warner, Mary Warner and John H.
Powrle (Clerk's Index No. 21,264, of the year 1913), I am able to
Inform you that the action has never been tried. It is, however,
on the general calendar and slowly approaching trial in the usual
way.
The action is based on a claim that the plaintiff loaned
the defedants $5,000, to be repaid within three days, upon certain
representations as to their probable ability to pay. An order to
show aause was granted and upon its return, the plaintiff's appli¬
cation for a temporary injunction was considered and argued,
upon the claim that, the defendants were without means, non-resi¬
dents and possessed of the single asset of the United States
Patent, assigned or to be assigned to the Uniplate Company,
The motion was granted August 27, 1913, upon condition that the .
injunction may be vacated upon defendants giving security for the
payment. of the plaintiff's claim with interest upon five days
notice. The amount of the claim was $5000, The order though in¬
formal grants the motion as prayed for, enjoining the jbiflindants
and. each of them from selling, assigning, transferring or other¬
wise disposing of any and all rights of the defendants and each of
them in and to the invention of the defendant, John H. Powrie, as
set forth in the annexed copy Letters Patent issued by the United
States government, and said Letters Patent"
The foregoing injunction is temporary, that is pendente
litem, and affects the Uniplate Company directly, for that company
is the holder of the United States Letters Patent, There is no
action pending here in any way affecting the rights of fihe de¬
fendants in their ownership of the Warner-Powrie Process, The
object of this injunction apparently was to provide a means of
satisfying a judgment for the $5000 in the event one were rendered.
The pleadings and all the papers relating to this action
are on file in the County Cleric's office and may be called for
under the above Cleric's number, and examined. If there is any
further information in respect to this action which you desire I
shall be glad to talk with you or your representative at this
office at any time,
Yours truly,
and that now merely matter of expanse necessary to produce
commercial product, we could arrange so. that monies loaned
would he deducted from cash to "be paid him under original
contract, powrie unquestionably must raise some money imme¬
diately to meet obligations no longer deferrable, but grav o
question in my mind about our going in much deep^er, even though
process should be successful, as it is doubtful if, including
two hundred thousand cash payment and royalties specified in
original contract, together with cost of plant and equipment
necessary to manufacture, we would/make/money or even get
our money back '' Fiice thousand dollars might keep him out
serious trouble until you return, and if you are willing we .
might advance him this amount without any security and take
chances, Powrie's work, including five thousand cash paid
■him account expenses from Eurpoe thus far .cost us about thirty
thousand dollars, V/ire fully your wishes.
WILS01T.
[ATTACHMENT]
Extract of Mr. Edison's memo.
"1st sand to Patent Office and see if there are any transfers
s to title or interest in Powrie patents on colored pictures patents,
or applications on record or if there is any cloud on them on the
RECEIVED AT
DAY
TER
21 H 29 Collect Blue
Fort Meyers , Flo • , Mar. 2-14
0 •!{« Wilson, Edison Co. .Orange, H.J.
Dont care to loan Powrle any Money on basis named he only has a
fighting chanoe and will require years to perfect and. large sums Money
for Factory.
March 7, 1914.
Mr. Edison
I beg to confirm telegram (Day Letter) of this
date, as follows:
"Powrie wants a special camera and a film
perforator for color work made up at once.
Will cost about five hundred dollars and I
will not go ahead without your approval.
Everything proceeding nicely here. Another
heavy snowstorm last night.
M. R. Hutchison."
The above for your information.
/ March 11, 1914.
Mr. Thomas A. Edison,
Port Hyers, •
Plorida.
Dear1 Mr. Edison:
Although a little late, it will perhaps he well
to ooni’irm the sending of night lettor to you on Pehruary 28th
regarding the Bowrie matter, and acknowledge reoeipt of your
te|^raphio roply dated March 2nd. I do not think it necessary
to 'quote tho messages, as they arc evidently both fully under¬
stood; therefore, suffice it to say that I- havo been and will
be guided by yo\ir decision not to loan Powrie any money on basis
named. Personally, I think your conclusion a wise one, as even
though ho should ' eventually succeed in perfecting his color phr-
tography, I believe it would take us a- long time— and perhaps
we would never succeed in getting hack profits the amount
we would he called upon to invest, as called for hy the original
agreement ,' namely: $200,000 cash ana in addition thereto a roy¬
alty on ovary foot of film sold, to say nothing of the cost of'
speoial plant and equipment necessary to produce the product.
I do not know how Powrde has arranged to handle his
financial obligations, as since X advised him that you did not
oarc to loan or advenoe him any money on the basis ho indicated
Mr^ Thomas A. Edison- 2.
he has saia nothing further to me, and X have not considered
it advisable to question him for fear he would again make a
request on us in some, other manner.
Yours very truly,
’res. 3a Gen. Mgr.
CUW/IWW
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[ON BACK OF PRECEDING PAGE]
Hr. Thomas A. Edison,
Fort Ityers,
Florida.
Dear Hr. Edison:
Referring to your recent memo, having, further
reference to Pov;rie wenting a perforator, ofco., X find you are
under the impression that the agreement v/e have with Powrie
does not include en option on the dry-plate feature of the
invention, the same as it does on the film end, whereas the
option does lnolude the dry plate. Your memo, indicates,
ho wever, that you do not care to exploit this end of the bus¬
iness . I have therefore had a long talk with Powrie, Hr.
Holden being present, along the lines you indicated, which
would necessarily include the releasing of the dry plate
option to him. He was rather receptive to negotiating along
these lines, but rather expressed adoubt as to whether the
two lines could be handled separately, for the reason that
the basic patent covers both the dry plate and film, and also
because a plant that would answer for the film end would with
but little expense also answer for the dry plate end, whereas
if separate plants had to be put up the cost would be much
greater.
As regards the hasio patent covering both the dry
,sS r. Ehomas A. Edison- 2.
plate nnd film, Jtr. Holden explained that this could he easily
taken care of hy our granting a license for the use of the
invention on dry plate work..
After discussing the subject at some length, Powrie
said ho would be willing to do almost anything in order to get
things started and would therefore think over the proposition
of our releasing him from the option given on the dry plate end
of the business and his disposing of or making arrangements
with sc.veone else to handle that end, with the understanding
^ In* cut /^eoM
that a new contract would hove to ce drawn up between us
covering an option on the film end only and whereby the amount
of cash payment as well as royalties stipulated in the present
contract would be reduced to the extent of the value of the
dry plate rights, which now ere included therein.
He also said it would perhaps be possible to get
Eastman, the Ansco people or someone else interested in taking
over the entire proposition, if we so desired; in such an
event ho, of course, to reimburse us for all the money we had
thus far expended or might expend up to the time the .transfer
was made, und I tola him to think this over also and let us
know what proposition he could submit in that direction.
Until we receive Ms propositions, or at least a definite
statement indicating that he Mil consider either one or the
othor of the above mentioned suggestions, 1 do not see that
we can do anything whatever in the way of a new contract. He,
however, said he would let us hear from Mm v/ithin the next
few aays, and when he does I will advise you further.
Mr. Thomas A. Edison- 3.
In the meantime I am not going to authorize 1310 build¬
ing of the perforator which he desires, as I do not think we
should go to any more expense until we know cxaotly where we
stand. Should you, however, disagree with my decision and
decide that we should go ahead with the perforator at an expense,
as Hutch advised you, of |§i||t $600 , you can wire me, simply
saying "Go ahead with Powrie perforator", and work will be
started immediately, thereby avoiding what you might other¬
wise consider an unoalled-f or delay.
The more I consider this whole proposition the more
I think you should get from under if possible, eVen though you
have to turn the entire thing over and consider the money thus
far expended as lost. . She letter agreement entered into between
Powrie and Dyer as it now stands provides for a cash payment
of §200,000. to be paid at the time "of the signing of the
agreement" , which would be when we decide the process to be
commercial' and we take steps to manufacture; and in addition
to this cash payment, a guaranteed minimum royalty as followB:
First year after signing
of agreement, §20,000
Second year, 30,000
Third " 40,000
Fourth, and all ensuing years
during the life of the patent, 50,000 per annum. '
The patent runs until 1922, or .'eight years more^ there¬
fore, assuming we took up the process this year, the a^jpmuni
royalties during the next eight years would amount to §340,000,
and this, together with the cash payment, would amount to
Mr. Thomas A. Edison- 4.
$540,000. Due to the rapid changes that are taking place
in not only the motion picture hut all classes oi' photography,
together with the keen competition which is liable to spring
up at any time because of someone^per footing a color picture
process , it certainly looks to me as though to
an expenditure of this amount of money would be a very hazard¬
ous risk.
.1, of course, may be entirely wrong in my views
concerning this matter, but in my position oannot help ex¬
pressing them to you.
Any further instructions you oare to give in connec¬
tion with this matter I shall be glad to receive.
Your s ve ry truly ,
CH'V / I\Y\V
C-DS
Thomas A. Edison Jnc.
Or a n ge ,N. J.,U. S. A.
ison Phonographs and Records. Edison Primary Batterie
Edison Kineto scopes andMolion Piclure Films
Edison Home Kinetoscopes and Motion Picture Films
Edison Dictating Machines. Edison Kinetophones
A.C.Rectifiers and Edison House Lighting Controllci
\V>
pomas A, Edison,
Fort Myers,
Florida.
Edison:
April Y, 1914. „
Uk y +**• ^
U WLuif
Concerning the Powrie matter, I have"jp5
yet been unahle to get him to consent to any modificationTrrhiwfc — s
ever to the present agreement. In discussing the matter again •
with him yesterday, he said he had taken it up with his people. ■
I believe there are two others interested with him in the
Uniplate Company, who now own the patents and with whom our
present agreement exists, and that they are considering the
question of endeavoring to make some arrangement with the Eastman
or Ansco Company, hut as yet they have not reached a definite
decision to do so. It rather looks as though we might have some
trouble in connection with this matter before we ore through with
it unless we are willing to let the agreement stand as at present,
as in my opinion Eowrie is still confident of very soon producing
satisfactory results, in which event he prefers holding us to the
cash payment agreed upon rather than attempt to negotiate with
anybody else for either the dry plate and of the process or both
the dry plate and film end. He -says he is progressing very
favorably now and expects to be able to show you satisfactory
results on your return.. In the meantime I do not see that anything
Mr. Thomas A. Edison -2-
important can happen by letting matters run along as they are
but when you do return, I thihk we should very carefully con¬
sider the question of forcing him to make a new deal with us
or throw the matter up altogether.
Very truly yours,
(Vi., .
Vice Pres. & Gen. Mgr.
COT: AH
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oy pjCr^L -£<_ y£~^
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January 2, 1915.
Mr. John II. lowrie,
Imperial Hotel,
Hew York City.
Bear Sir :
Will you kindly arrange to see me (my office is
now in Mr. Edison’s Library) tbe early part of next week, as ■ #*
there are several matters of importance I think it advisable to
discuss without further delay. Come over Monday if possible.
Yours very truly.
CHW/IWW
Vice-Pres. & Gen. Mgr.
Mr. Powrie states that he has found that his method can he
best carried out by the use of a regular or geometrical pattern on the
color screen as distinguished from an irregular pattern such as would
be obtained by scattering the particles at random on the screen, for
the reason that the differently colored spaces in a regular arrangement
can be very much larger than in an irregular arrangement without being
noticeable to the eye. Por instance, the eye can detect a single line
only 1/6000 of an inch wide whereas if we take lines 1/500 of an
inch wide, that is, 500 to the inch, the eye cannot detect them as
separate lines. It merely looks like a gray surface.
If we take colored particles only 1/25000 of an inch in
diameter arranged irregularly on a surface, the eye can detect ir¬
regularities, whereas if the different color particles are only
1/500 of an inch in diameter and are arranged in a regular pattern, the
eye cannot detect these various colors.
As regards a geometrical .pattern which he prefers to use,
that is, lines as distinguished from squares or oblong spaces, there
is a great advantage in using lines because in order to superpose
squares there is a likelihood of error in two directions whereas in
superposing lines there can be an error only in one direction. In
other words, the problem in superposing lines is much simpler than
superposing squares or other figures of this character.
In all cases no matter what arrangement is used, either
lines or squares or irregular arrangements, the diffusion principle
must be used, that is, suppose the red light from a given object passes
through the red part of the color screen it must then spread so as to
cover a greater surface than the red colored pant of the color soreen.
In this way, we practically get on the plate some of the red that is
cut off toy the tolue and green parts of the color screen adjacent the
red section through which the light actually came^and similcr/^for the
other colors.
Referring to the subject matter of our recent con¬
versation, we do not care to assume any further expense in connec¬
tion with the development of your inventions in color photography,
ffe have expended up to date quite a sum of money,, including the
amount paid for our option. ' Shis amount we think you should
reimburse us for, either by deducting same from the initial pay¬
ment, in case we exercise our option, or by payment of same to us.
in case we decide not to exercise the option. We Should be glad;
therefore, if you will oomraunicato with your associates, with a
view to 'entering into some agreement for securing this result, ^
as for example, an agreement that if we do not exercise the option
we will release you from all claims with respect to your inventions
in color photography, including U. 3. Patent Ho. 802,741 and yopr
more reoent inventions, upon payment to us of the amount we have .>
expended and providing that our claim shall be a lien on your patent
and inventions, and that the-same shall not be assigned or trans-
or/,, ",/. S/i'nm/.X
S$o
[., WILSON
nuary. 2Bth, 1915.
0. H. Wilson,
c/o Thomas
Dear Mr. Wilson: -
A. Edison, j/o\, W. V 'h ,
irange, Kew/JerseyH ,rJ 1/
/^Vv w
Xour/ietter of the 15th instant was duly received.
Of course, I will haver to accept your notification as cheerfully as
possible that you ^ve decided to discontinue the work. My experience •
in not being gryin proper facilities and the lack of any appreciation
of my work hi *6 been a great disappointment to me of course. I have
realized tlfat for the past two years, Mr. Edison has ben losing interest
in this/matter , so that when we were locked out of our work shop by him
shortly after the fire, it was no surprise to us. As regards your
;estion that Mr. Edison should be reimbursed for' the expense of the
>&periments, I can hardly believe that such a suggestion comes personally
from him. I haven't the heart to discuss the contents of your letter
with Miss Warner and her mother and before doing so, I would really like
to know that the proposition contained in your letter comes from Mr.
Edison himself. i am sending a copy of this letter to Mr. Edison to-
Hr. C. H. Will
January 28th, 1915,
son - #2.
gether with a copy of the letter which I received from you.
February 23, 1916,
■\af^
V
Ur. John H. Powrie,
Hotel Imperial,
Hew York City.
Dear Sir:
v;c find it necessary to occupy the building in v.hieh your
apparatus an,! supplies aro oontainod at the Udison Laboratory, and we
hereby call upon you to remove sane before the end of tho present week.
In case this is not dono, we shall romove the sumo and hereby
notify you that wo shall not be liable for the 103s of any of said
property or damage thereto.
Yours truly,
Vice President & Genl. Manager.
✓
I, JOHN H. POWRIE, a resident of the City of Now
York, County of Now York ana State of Now York, hereby
authorize ana request Thomas A. Edison, Inoorporatea, a
corporation of the State of Hew Jersey, ana Thomas A. Eaison
or either of them, to deliver to H, 0, Boss of West Orange
in the County of Essex ana State of New Jersey, the follow¬
ing material now on the premises known as the EaiBon
laboratory. West Orange, Hew Jersey:
One complete emulsion mixer or stirrer.
One driving mechanism for the above mentioned
mixer or stirrer.
Two emulsion bags.
One gauge for an emulsion ooating machine.
One lot of small tools and miscellaneous artioles
comprising three pairs of wooden pinoherB, one spanner,
one wrench, one small saw, one winding crank, one lens
holder easing and one piece of emery stone.
Two tin covers for emulsion cans.
One printing frame.
One dark-lamp^ shade .
One film-clamping 'device.
Two film-reel flanges or discs.
One arc lamp.
One guideway or base for printing machine.
One lot of colored crepe paper.
One lot of photographs.
One lot of glass and crockery jars.
One box containing a lot of magazines and other
publications on photography, a lot of dishes, knives
and forks and a lot of towels and napkins.
Bated February 1915.
March 13, 1915.
Mr. J. H. Powrie,
Hotel Imperial,
32nd St, & Bway,
Uev.' York City.
Dear Sir:
Mr. Borggren has turned over to this Department
ion an unpaid note for §1100. of The Uniplato Co. endorsed
Please send me a remittance at once to take up this note a
it will he nooossary to bring suit to recover this amount.
Yours truly.
for colleot-
hy you.
s otherwise
DH/JU
General Counsel.
Mr. C. H. Wilson:
I hand you herewith Mr. McCoy's last report upon the Powrie
mat tors. Mr. McCoy is of the opinion that Mr. Metz is interested only-
in the use of the Powrie prooesa^f^ the making of photographic
plates or photographs printed from plates as distinguished from
motion picture work which is done on films. He tells me that Mr.
Taylor of Dyer & Taylor and also Mr. Prank L. Dyer have acquired an
interest in the Powrie prooess for motion picture purposes, hut he is
unable to locate any studio for this purpose. This information was
given to McCoy by Mr. Taylor.
I am unable to see that we can do anything towards the
collection of our claim againet Powrie at the present time, although
possibly the filing of a suit against him might cause him to pay the
amount of his notes. I do not see any use of dunning him for the
account as we have boon after him so long in this way. I would either,
leave him alone or file a suit against him.
Elf CL.
DH/JU
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Correspondence
Copyright Photographs
This folder contains correspondence between Frank L. Dyer of the
Legal Department and ThorvaldSolberg, register of copyrights at the Library
of Congress, regarding copyright applications for motion pictures scenes.
The letters are from 1 905 and relate to an application for a film entitled Poor
Algy.
Approximately 90 percent of the documents have been selected.
Oct. 6th, 1905,
Ragi3ti»«r^of Copyrights,
Washington, D.O.
SIR:-
In reference to the enlosed application for seven
copyrights in the name of Thomas A. Edir.cn, I hag to say that
the photographs in question constitute single pictures from
successive scenes of a moving picture film. Heretofore, it
lias been Mr. Edison's practice in securing copyrights on his
moving pictures to file with the application a complete print
of the entire series, sometimes hundreds of feet in length,
and involving thousands of photographs. In Edison v. lubin,
122 Eed. Rep. 240, it was held hy the Circuit Court of Appeals,
Third Circuit, that a series of pictures of such a character
"that the difference, between successive pictures is not dis¬
tinguishable by the eye" may be regarded as a single photo¬
graph, and therefore, the subject of a valid copyright. It
has always seemed to me that there was grave doubt, whether
a moving picture representing different scenes with different
actors, incidents and backgrounds could be protected by a
single copyright. Eor this reason I have considered it safer
No. 2 Registrar of Copyrights,
to secure a separate copyright on each scene. Instead of
sending a complete print of the hundreds of pictures compris¬
ing each scene, I have selected a representative picture from
each scene, limiting the copyright to that picture, hut de¬
pending in case of infringement upon the substantial identity
of all the pictures of any scene with the copyrighted picture.
If this practice is acceptable to the Copyright Office, it will
materially reduce the expense of preparing matter here for
copyright, and I should suppose would be also preferable to
the Copyright Office as facilitating more convenient filing and
reference. A single photograph in duplicate from each of the
seven scenes is sent herewith, the photographs from each scene
being mounted on a single card. If t,hiB is objectionable,
each card cun be cut in two, and if you will advise me on this
point, 1 will see that your wishes are complied with in the
future. I will be obliged if you will advise me whether the
suggestions I have made meet with your ideas, so far as your
office is concerned, and if so, I v/ill follow this course in
seedring similar copyrights hereafter.
Kindly also let me know whether instead of sending
a money order, 1 will be allowed to pay the necessary fees by
check.
nld/ahk.
Very respectfully,
7
T- fil. .
No. FWA-WHL
Dear Sir*
I have tha honor, by request of the Librarian of Congress*
to acknowledge receipt of your letter of October 6th, and your appli¬
cation and remittance of $3.50 for seven entries under the title
"Poor Algy, "Scenes 1 to 7, in tha name of Thomas A. Edison.
You state that,
"Heretofore, it has been Hr. Edison's practice in securing
copyrights on his moving pictures to file with the appli¬
cation a complete pri'nt of the entire series, sometimes
hundreds of feet in length, and involving thousands of
photographs. In Edison v. Lubin, 122 Fed. Rep. 240, it was
held by the Circuit Court of Appeals, Third Circuit., that
a series of pictures of such a character "that the dif¬
ference between successive pictures is not distinguishable
by the eye" may be regarded as a single photograph, and
therefore, the subject of a valid copyright. It has always
seemed to me that there was grave doubt whether a moving
picture representing different scenes with different actors
indicentB and backgrounds could be protected by a single
copyright. For this reason I have considered it safer to
secure a separate copyright on each scene."
This opone up legal questions of some difficulty, which should
receive very careful consideration before notion is tdken. The matter
will therefore be taken under advisement and a more extended reply will
be sent to you aB soon as practicable. In the me.antime, your applica¬
tion and remittance wlll.be held to your credit under date of October
7th as 25631, to which number please refer in future correspondence.
Whatever entries are made hereafter upon this application will be
dated October 7th', the date of the receipt of the titles.
2
In reply to your question as to remittances I would state
that if it is more c onveniont ' for you to remit by means of check,
the same will be accepted.
Frank L. Dyer, Esq.,
Edison Laboratory,
Orange, N. J.
Respectfully^
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Correspondence
Feed Mechanism
The one selected item in this folder is a letter from 1 905 by Frank L. Dyer
of the Legal Department. It concerns an exhibiting machine designed by Edwin
S. Porter and its possible infringement of a patent issued to Thomas Armat in
1901.
The unselected material includes correspondence with patent attorneys
Bacon & Milans of Washington, D.C., regarding a patent for a kinetographic
camera issued in 1 899 to Oscar B. Depue of Chicago.
Oct. 27,1905.
William 38. Gilmore, Esq.,
Pres't - 'Edison Mfg. Company,
Orange, N.J,
Bear Sir:-?
Mr. Moore has asked me to express my opinion
on the question whether the proposed small exhibiting machine
with eccentric feed movement, designed by Mr. Porter, can be
marketed without infringing any existing patents.
I understand the machine in question is to be put
out as a direct-view kinetOBcope, in competition with the muto-
scope. The only patent disclosed in my search containing
claims that would appear to embarrass us in any way is the
patent to Armat, ITo. 673,992, dated May 14th, 1901. This Armat
patent shows practically the same feed movement in a project¬
ing machine, having a long period of illumination apd-flith a
slack formed in the film between the exposure opening and the
upper feed wheel. The olairaB of the Armat patent are, however,
not limited to the eccentric fej|ii device, and if any of these,
claims is infringed by the proposed direct feed kinetOBcope,
the same claims would be just as certainly |kfrlnged by the ;
projecting machines which we have put out for many yearn
past. The application for the Armat patent was filed Febru¬
ary 19th, 1896 and the patent was not issued until May 14th,
1901. During this period, the Edison Manufacturing Company
began to manufacture projecting kinetoscopes practically like
those now used, and this business haB been continued without
interruption ever since. If Araat believed that these machines
made and sold by the Edison Manufacturing Company infringed'
his patent, it was incumbent upon him to establish his rights
as soon as the patent issued. This, he failed to do, and in
my opinion, he could not now succeed in establishing this pa¬
tent, as against our machines, even if he ever contemplated
doing so. Apparently, however, Armat never regarded the patent
in question as of sufficient solidity to warrant a suit there¬
on, and I think it very clear from an examination of the history
of the application, and particularly of the interference with
Latham and easier, in which thiB application was involved, that
any novelty and invention in the patent rest on a very vague
and shadowy foundation. iRhether Armat haB finally and definite¬
ly given up any idea of bringing suit on this patent is unim¬
portant, because in my opinion, he could never prevail against
us on the machines which we have been continuously putting out
for the past eight or ten years.
The question then is, would the situation be
changed if we should put out an additional type of machine,
No. 3 - W.K.G.
identical with the specific apparatus disclosed in the patent?
As I have before said, the claims of the patent are not limit¬
ed to the particular feed mechanism shown, hut are broad
enough to o$ver any and all forms of intermittent feed mechan¬
ism. Would it be possible for Armat, should we put out the
proposed machine, to brine suit against us and assert that his
patent should be considered as limited to an ’eccentric feed?
In my opinion, this could not be effectively done, firBt, be¬
cause under the authorities, the courts carihot^, in construing
" -iS ' l
o. patent, practically re-construct the claims, which would be
necessary if the patent were regarded as being limited to an
eccentric feed movement, and second, because during the prosecu¬
tion of his application, Armat presented a claim covering
"a rotating element adapted to intermittently engage and move
the film a prede|miafined distance once during each revolution"
which claim was rejected on patent to Demeny, No. 544,480,
dated August 13, 1895, whereupon the claim was erased. Under
these circumstances Armat must be held to have abandoned any
claim on the eccentric feed mechanism, and he would be estopped
from asserting any construction for hiB claims that would spe¬
cifically cover Buch a feed meohanism.
In conclusion, therefore, 1 am of the opinion
that the proposed machine can be safely put out, without infring¬
ing any existing patents. I will suggest, however, in the
No. 4 - W.E.G,
event that thin matter is gone ahead with, it might be well
to file an application for a patent on the machine when its
final form has been dei&nnined.
Yours very truly,
I’ll) Ark.
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Correspondence
Foreign Films
This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to
copyright issues and kinetoscope films purchased in Europe for duplication in
the United States. The documents are from 1 904. Most of the letters are written
by Frank L. Dyer of the Legal Department and patent attorneys Bacon &Milans
of Washington, D.C. Some of the items contain descriptions of specific films
from the Warwick T rading Co., Ltd. , of London and Pathe Freres. Also included
is correspondence concerning a suit filed by the American Mutoscope &
Biograph Co. against the Edison Manufacturing Co.
All of the documents have been selected.
»
Vie have to-day received four (4) films from Europe titles
Canting & Courting"
of vfaich are "Smoked Out", "Duck Hunt", A ana "Capture and Execution
as Spies of two Japanese Officers". We wish to make negatives of these
films, hut before doing so would request you to ascertain whether or
not they have been copyrighted i*j this country.
(W.S.T) J. H. N.
June 1,1904.
Messrs. Bacon & Ml Ians, .
Washington, DiC;
I have on hand fbur films for use In kinetoscopes ,
which were obtained abroad, and I : wish to ascertain whether or not
any of them have been copyrighted^ in this country. 1 will therefore
give you a short description of /.the pictures on these films, and
request that you make a seach covering the titles of all films
copyrighted in this country during the past six monthB. Unless
there iB some way of distinguishing such films from other photo¬
graphs, it may be necessary for you to search through the titles of
all photographs copyrighted withih this period.
The first film is entitled "Smoked Out". A country girl
appears upon the scene with a tin bucket, which Bhe sets down by
a well or tank of water. A young man enters and they sit on on a
convenient bench and indulge ifn kissing, etc. Somebody is seen,
or heard, approaching, and the yoyng man conceals himself in a hay¬
stack. The somebody appears oji the scene and is an older nian
dressed as a countryman, and probably is the girl's father. He
sits down on the bench, lights/ his pipe and throws the match where
• f
Ho. 2 He ears. Bacon & Milana.
it ignites the hay. Clouds of smoke arise and the young man is
smoked He rushes to the tank and jumps in, and the smoke
continues to arise. After he gets out of the tank he grapples
with th8 father, and the fire in his clothing 1b finally smothered.
The second film is entitled "Tramps Duck Hunt", and the
picture consists in two ragged tramps chasing a live duck. They
chase it first from a farm yard down the road, the duck constant¬
ly eluding them, and the trumps constantly falling over rocks
and over each other. The road gets very rocky, and the duck
finally takes to th^. woods, and than to a brook, into which the
tramps plunge and; continue the' chase, finally going over a little
water-fall and getting thoroughly soaked with water.
The third film i3 entitled "Courting" and shows a stylish¬
ly dressed couple sadiitexjingj.algng^a ;handsome street. The man
steps to the curb and signals' a han^omr.vj ; the couple get into the
cab and drive off. The man kishes the girl, and then puts lip an •
umbrella in front of them .continuing the drive concealed in this
manner. This portion of thef f ilm • ends with the word "Caught" in
large letters. The next scene shows a closed oarriage driving
towards the spectator ;it stops and a couple get out, together
with Bight or nine small children! of different sizes. The cab¬
man evidently holds the mail. '|pj for an exorbljtairt fare, and they
have a little rumpus, V ^
The fourth film is britiiled. "The Capture and Kxecution
As Spies of Two Japanese Officers". There are two JapB disguised
as coolies, who appear on the scene, the background of which is
*
ITo. 3 Messrs. Bacon & Milano.
a freight ear or train on a railrotu| track. They crawl under the
care and disappear. The Russian soldiers enter and sentries
are posted hy the train, only one sentry being visible after the
squad has disappeared. The Japs seise an opportunity when the
sentry’s back is turned to climb into the freight c&r. As the
sentry passes they jump on him, throw him to the ground, apparent¬
ly killing him. They take off his clothing and one of the Japs
in
puts it on, this way disguising himself as a Russian soldier.
They get into the car again and as another sentry comes along,
they jump on hira and tie him up against the car, they then' put
sticks of dynamite under the track, light them and run off. The
Russian soldier kicks at the burning fuse and a -crowd of Russian
soldiers come running in and prevent the explosion. The next
seines show the pursuit of the Japs and their capture. The Japs
run, followed by a crowd of Russians, and take refuge upon a pile
of wood, from which they are easily di sloggdd' and are marched away.
Then follows a Court Martial, before three officers, in which the
Japs appear in j|ff leers* uniform. Tho execution follows, the Japs
standing side by side, facing the audience and the firing squad
being between the Japs and1 the audience With their backs towards
the latter. The first volley kills one officer, but only wounds
the other, so that n second, volley is given. The Japs are then
placed in shallow graves and buried.
The films entitled "Smoked out" and "Courting" are marked
"Copyright Warwick Trading Company, ltd. London". The film entit-
t , r
Ho. 4. Messrs, * Bacon & Milans.
led "Buck Hunt,'1 is marked "Sheffield Photo Company*. Norfolk Street,
Sheffield". / The .Tap ana se Spy |.ilm is marked "Paul, 68 High-hol-
horn, Xjondoh" .
You will have to use your J Judgment as to whether any of
the titles of copyrighted films arc such as would appropriately
be applied to the series of pictures such as 1 have described.
An early reply! is desired, as films of this description lose inost
of their valu4 unless used at onoe.
m /!&£..
Yours very truly,
.^^c\
Nnr
BACON «fe MTLiANS.
ATTORNEYS AND SOLICITORS IN PATENT CAUSES,
NO. 908 G STREET, NORTHWEST.
(ROOMS, 410-416.)
WASHINGTON, D. O . JUtlS... 2nd , ...19Q4 ... ....
■prank L. Dyer, Esq.,
0 r a n g e/ H. J.
Dear Sir:-
We are in receipt of your favor of the 1st inst.,
requesting us to ascertain whether certain Kinetoscope films
have been copyrighted in this country. We called today
at the office of the Registrer of Copyrights relative to
this matter and he informed us that there was in his office
an index of the claimants for copyrights and that he would
have a search made therethrough for the purpose of. ascer_
taining whether any of the parties referred to in your letter
had secured within the last six months copyrights on kineto¬
scope films, such as those described by you. He made such
a search and informed us that none of the parties mentioned
in your letter had secured any such copyrights. The
Registrer informed us that this was in his opinion very
good evidence that these films had not been copyrighted.
He stated, however, that if we were so disposed we could ex¬
amine all of the films which have been filed within the last
six months. V/e informed him that we desired to make every
effort to ascertain, v/hether or not the.se films had been copy¬
righted and he has arranged matters so that v/e can get at the
specimen films tomorrow morning. Although v/e presume that
. June 2 , . 1904.
this matter will take some little time, since we have been
informed that a very large number of films have been filed
within the last six months, we will endeavor to report to
you the results of our search tomorrow evening.
Yours very truly,
Dict.H-D.
June 3,1904.
Messrs. Bacon & Milans,
908 - G Street,
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:-
Your favor of the 2nd inst. at hand. The fact
that no films have been copyrighted by any of the parties men¬
tioned in our letter would not be conclusive in regard to the
non- copyrighting of the films, as it frequently happens that
American dealers purchase the copyright privileges for this
country and apply in their own name as proprietor. However,
ydur'dsaarbh will settle the matter one way or the other.
I should have stated in my first letter that there is
very little profit in making suoh jjTilms as these, as only a
few may be sold, and would therefore request that the expense
be kept down as much as possible.
Yours very truly.
DH/ARK.
BACON & MILANS.
ATTORNEYS AND SOLICITORS IN PATENT CAUSES,
NO. 908 C STREET, NORTHWEST.
(ROOMS, 410-415.)
. June 3rd , 1904.
Prank 1. Dyer, Esq.,
Or a n g e , II. J.
Dear Sir:-
Ve have today spent considerable time aVlBi.^''’'
Congressional library in making an examination of the Kineto-
scope. films which have been filed there for the purpose of
securing copyrights, and have in fact examined eve ry film
which has been filed within the last six months but have
been unable to find any which conform to the description of
the films given in your letter of the first. Owing to the
manner in which the films are kept we did not examine the
pictures on the films themselves, but merely the titles
stamped thereon. If we had found any titles which would sug¬
gest that the films contained any such pictures as those de¬
scribed in your letter, we would have examined the films them¬
selves, but we found no such films. We were assisted in our
search by a clerk detailed by the Registrer of Copyrights.
Very truly yours,
Dict.H-D.
[ATTACHMENT!
AMOUNT CHARGED,
ft
'■Date
Attorneys. . ^ AOgXy/. _
Items . j5”0 .
. f^VU/L. JvmJ/U _
.
-jro
~
BACON & Ml LANS.
Moving Picture Copyrights.
June 4, 1904.
John R. So^armerhorn, Esq. ,
EdiBOn Mfg. Company,
Orange, N.J.
Dear Sirt-
As you know, the Biograph Company has an arrange¬
ment with one or more foreign film manufacturers hy which that
company ha3 an option to copyright in this country any films
manufactured abroad, the arrangement being such that the foreign
manufacturer agrees not to publish the film abroad until the
Biograph Company has secured the 'copyright in this country. Re¬
cently the Biograph Company sued the Edison Mfg. Company. for
infringement of copyright,- and upon looking into the matter I
found that the film which we were gelling waB a duplicate of a -
foreign film sent us by Mr. TOiite, and which apparently was not
copyrighted. As a matter of fact, this film was copyrighted in
this country by the Biograph, |ompany, so that on the face of j
things we have no defence at all, although of course our* in- I
fringement was innocent and we cannot be subject to damages.
i Yesterday 1 had' a conference with the attorney for the
Biograph Company, and explained the situation to him and assured ^
-v
Ho. 2 - Jho. R. Scheraerhom, Esq.
ft ;
him that the manufacture of the infringing film would he dis¬
continued hy us. |At the Bame time, however, this thing is likely
to happen repeatedly, as it is very difficult and more or less
unoertain for us to assure ourselves that any foreign films that
we wish to oopy here may not, in fact, he copyrighted in thiB
country. I therefore made the suggestion that if the Biograph
Company would advise us of all films whioh it copyrights in this
country, we in turn, would advise them of all films whioh we
copyright, AB./of course they have no more desire to get into
copyright litigations than we have. In making this suggestion,
however, /I was careful to say that it did not oome from my olients
and may not he approved hy them. 1 wish you would advise me on
this point, in order that I may know how to aot in oase the Bio¬
graph Company is, disposed to ad|pt the suggestion.
Yours very truly,
ELD/ARK.
• #
Mr. Moore:- j
I return the boxes'^ of films submitted to me, and.
find nothing on them indicating that they have been copyrighted
in this oountry, although the films made by the Warwick Trading
Company, I.td« appear to have been copyrighted in Great Britain.
I see' no reason therefote, why you should not duplicate these
films , with the understanding that you should save .at the intro¬
ductory part of each and ahout a foot of the pictures, of course,
if it should later develop that any of these films have been
copyrighted in this country, we will have to stop making them.
I notice on the Paths films the Booster trademark,'
which of course must not he imitated. '
BRK. P.B.B.
June 6, 1904. , . *
June 6, 1904,
J. H. Maultyj Esq.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, IT. J.
Dear Sir : + !
- ■ / In response to your letter of. May 28th, 1904, con¬
cerning ^ four filajpi’ entitled "Smoked Out", "Duck Hunt", Canting
and Courting'? and "The Capture and Execution as Spies of Two Jap¬
anese Officers", I have had a search made at the office of the
Registrar' of Copyrights, which included the titles of all films copy?
righted within the last six months. The search disclosed no film
having a .title which would he appropriate to either of the films
in question, or which would suggest that the copyrighted films con¬
tain any such pictures as those upon the four said films. There
appears to hp no reason, therefore, why you should not proceed to
copy the films.
DH/ka.
Yours very truly,
T
Duplicating foreign Eilms.
June 6,1904
Alex. T. Moore, Esq,,
Edison Hfg. Company,
Orange, U. J.
Dear Sir:-
As I advised you personally this morning, it is al¬
most impossible, except at a large expense, to determine with cer¬
tainty what foreign films may be copyrighted in this country by our
competitors. In fact, the expense of such a search in every case
would-be simply prohibitive. There is, therefore, always the risk
that some film which may be purchased in Eondon by Mr. White may be
copyrighted in this; country by the Biograph Company. That is a
ri^| v/hich, so far as I can see, vre will have to take.
i renew my suggestion, however, that in the case of
each foreign film which we may duplicate you save the copyright
mark and say about a foot of the film, in order that there may be
no mistake as to, the subject matter. The rest of the film may then
be sold to Mr. '/Waters. If, after this precaution, v/e find that
the Biograph Qo. has in fact copyrighted any film which we have been
duplicating, jvq can simply stop duplicating the, copyrighted film.
Yours very truly.
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Correspondence
Lubin, Sigmund
This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating
primarily to the use of the trade names "Universal" and "Exhibition" on
projecting machines produced by Philadelphia manufacturer Sigmund Lubin.
The selected items are from 1904.
Approximately 40 percent of the documents have been selected.
Edison Manufacturing Company:
\;
Mr. S. Xubin,
2X South 8th 'Street,
Philadelphia, Pa.
-• Dear Sir:- <
I ifa informed that you advertise your projecting
machines with the; trade names "Universal" and "Exhibit ion1' respect¬
ively, the formeri being the cheaper machine. ,\
1/ Tjieg to call your attention to the fact j;hat the
Edison Manufacturing Company adopted these trade names f or , the
identification Of its own projecting machines, and that Company,
also charged; less for its "Universal" machine than for its' "Exhi¬
bition" machine , ‘ . There are so many other names which you could
sdltact Without conflicting with my client *s interests, !that I can
regard yovxj' appropriation of these trade names as nothing less than
unfair competition. I, therefore, request that you^desist from,
using these trade names, and unless you immediately advuse me that
this will fie (lone , I shall proceed against you with a suit for ' in¬
junction! and damages. ... v ' •
•!■'■. : ;
Yours very truly, /
• •» , • .
Counsel Edison >Mfg. Co.
,4 ■
■ ,
NO COPY. ORIGINAL. ORIGINAL. NO COPY.
The Great Train Robbery,
Hi MOST BltSTIO 1M MIST imilt fflllf.
A GREAT MONEY MAKER, A HIT WHEREVER SHOWN.
. This picture is developed by our new process, -and is- clear
listmct, beautiful in scenery, and excellent in photography. It is- ai
...surpassed film in subject; and beauty. Although it cost us nearly
?1.j 00 .,t,° 'produce this ereat P‘ct“re,: we will not raise' the price
and will sell it , - ; ",
★ 600ft. - - - ■ $66 ★
>Ve are so thoroughly convinced that this film will give perf cl
- satisfaction that we defy.the.most critical test' “
4 ȣW SUBJECTS FROM THE BUSSIi!H-J*PilNESrkB
The CINEOBRAPH, with STEREOPTICON COMBINED.
• '.UNIVERSAL MODEL, $50. •. -
EXHIBITIONMODEL, °”MI L'' aAKo'ius/1 ltlA^”jKV^YA\nASffi"K^™TAT,$751,,;
S3»i. ■ LTJBT1V largest manufacturer
L ■ I ^1 9 IN THE WORLD, •••;
.21 S. Eighth Street, Philadelphia, p^; ' ‘ .
18 People.
No Theatre Scenery Used.
Touring in Our Own Private Two Cars.
Wanted: Season 38 Woeks,
Two Heavies— Man and Wire.
[wo Characters— Man and Wife.
|ne Comedian— White Face,
peral Stock People, write, |
BRiVEB, SAM A. VOOIIIIEKS. I
■ried Attraction
rrmnfnn REMov^-
FtlNDERG The Photographe
AFTER JULY I, ,904|
No~ 1343 BROA: -V/ AY i
S. Lubin
MANUFACTURING OPTICIAN
iNVacN'TOIl AND Patentee of
Moving Picture Machines and Films
21 S. EIGHTH STREET
PHIIiABELTPHrA. Pa.. .Tilly 1QQ4, _ 190
Frank 1. Dyer,
Orange, N. J.
Dear Sirt-
Your letter of July 14th, received. I have forwarded the
same to Mr. Luhin who is at the present time at the St. Louis Exposition.
After his return he shall communicate with you concerning the matter.
Yours
Edison Mfg. Company,
July 19,1904,
S. Dubin, Esq.,
21 South 8th Street,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Dear Sir:-
I am in receipt of a letter from Doctor Bear
of the 18th inst. informing me that Mr. Butin is at present in
St. Xouis. Can you advise me when he is expected to return?
Of course, X do not wish to he unduly insistent in this matter,
tut at the same time, 3inoe in my opinion, our rights are being
infringed, I think that the question should te considered ty him
with reasonable promptness.
Tours very truly.
eld/ahk.
Counsel for Edison Mfg. Company.
aft.
s.
Lubin
MANUFACTURING OPTICIAN
Moving Picture Machines and Films
21 S. EIGHTH STREET
Philadelphia. Pa - Iuljc_30^_19Q<
.190
'J?ranK 1. nyfler,
Orange, N. J.
near sir:-
In answer to your letter of juitf 19th. , we want to say that
tfe Expect Mr, Lubin the first part of next week when we will Using
the matter before him. You will then hear further frbra us*
In the meantime, we remain i
ALL ORDERS
Franfc L. Dyer,
Orange, 3t. ,U
Dear Sir:-
In nnawe* to 70 nr lector <&' $j%i9J3t*, X wish to say that
Mr. tolhin has not retttttflSA htfi feld* positively whan
I win Bee him hut to *m4 *bSr^|#ai' «tta*i^l^ntaf U* to his ration,
1 Qtm&xi the names «r <x& ts&j&xto sw? fct this wash's Clipper.
Alter Mr. Ittbia hgg3**!jOj^ lhtye* has been consulted
as to the validity of ymnr data, ^jit| t^ll tye#? fjpom h» again.
In the meantime, we yxto&pt
August 8, 1904
Edison Manufacturing Co:
Mr. S. Iiiibin,
21 South 8th Street,
Ehiladelphia, Pa.
Dear sir:-
Returning to my office to-day, I find your letter of
the 29th ult., advising me that you have changed the names of your
machines, and I thank you for your prcmpt compliance with me request
in this matter.
Yours very truLy,
ELD/fel.
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Correspondence
Mutoscope and Related Patents
This folder contains correspondence, patents, drawings, and other
documents relating to the kinetoscope, the mutoscope, and additional
machines for filming and exhibiting motion pictures. The one selected item is
a 1905 letter from Frank L. Dyer to Alex T. Moore, manager of the Kinetoscope
Department of the Edison Manufacturing Co. The letter concerns the
company's plans to manufacture "a moving picture exhibiting machine similar
to the mutoscope for use in combination with the phonograph" and possible
infringements of the patents of other inventors.
The unselected material consists primarily of approximately thirty U.S.
patents pertaining to the kinetoscope, the mutoscope, and other machines.
Most of the patents were issued to inventors in the United States, including
Herman Casler, Henry O. Costello, Warren B. Davis, William K. L. Dickson,
Charles T. Ellsworth, C. Francis Jenkins, Grace L. Jenkins, Harry N. Marvin,
Enoch J. Rector, and Lawrence P. Thompson. Also included are patents
issued to European residents, such as Auguste and Louis Lumiere of France;
William S. Simpson and Henry W. Short of Great Britain; and Oskar Messter
of Germany.
•VK. : yw
Nov. 20,1905.
Alex. T. Moore, Esq.,
Mgr. -Kinetosoope Dept., Edison Mfg. Co.,
Orange, N.J.
Dear Sir:-
ln accordance with your request 1 have lookeji|
into the matter of the Mutoscope patents for the purpose of
advising you whether the company could manufacture a moving
picture exhibiting machine similar to the mutoscope for use
in combination with the phonograph without infringing any
existing patents.
The question is not as simple and as free from
doubt as 1 expected that it would be. As 1 explained to you,
the broad idea of rapidly and successively bringing a series
of cards with photographs thereon into view, was disclosed
in the patent to Sellers, No. 31,357, dated February 5th, 1861.
While the idea of mounting the pictures on a series of closely
assembled cards which are exposed by flexing the cards rear-
wardly and permitting them to escape successively and- pass out
of the field of ;j|iew by reason of their resiliency is disclosed
in patents to Van Hoevenbergh, No. 258,164 of May 16th, 1882,
and. 259,950 of June 20th, 1882, copies of which are enclosed.
No. 2 - Alex. T. Moore, Esq.
I find, however, that aB a result, of my examination, existing
patent? practically cover all fonnB of mutoscope arrangements
in which the photographic cards are mounted on a reel, drum
or shaft, as distinguished from an endless belt.
For example, the Earnum patent, No. 547,066, October
1, 1895 (copy enclosed), covers an arrangement in which the
photographs are secured to a drum or shaft by a resilient con¬
nection which moves the photographs, and when released , quickly
across the field of view. With this arrangement, the photographs
are not flexed, but remain perfectly flat.
The Casler patent, No. 549,309 of November 5th,
1895 (copy enclosed) covers an arrangement in which the photo¬
graphs are radially mounted on a drum or shaft, and their
elasticity is relied upon to move them past the field of view
when successively released.
The Casler patent, No. 597,759 of January 25th, 1898
(copy enclosed) covers an arrangement in which the movement
of the pictures past the field of view is effected by inte|^^
ing thin flat springs between the successive photographs.
Re-isBue patent to Chance, No; 11,650 of Eebruary
15th, 1898 (copies of which are exhausted) covers an arrange¬
ment in which the picture|cards, instead of being secured radial-
ly to a shaft or drum, are secured tangentially thereon.
The Gillette patent No. 696,869 of April 1, 1902,
(copies of which are exhausted) covers an arrangement in which
the photographs are mounted perpendicular on the Bide face of
a disc ,
No. 3 A.T.M.
It seems to me that the several arrangements which
are thus covered by the patents above referred to, practically
include all the available schemes for mounting the photographs
on drums or diBcs, although perhaps Mr. Weber or Mr. Aiken
may be able to suggest a construction sufficiently different
from those of the patents, as not to be included in the scope
of the claims. It is also possible that aB a result of a
further examination, I might conclude that the patents above
referred to are not valid, and that various arrangements in
which the photographs are secured to drums or shafts could be
safely used, but to do that would involve considerable expense
and the matter would not be >. definitely settled except by liti¬
gation, which we should, of course, avoid. Assuming the pa¬
tents to be valid, their claims would, in my opinion, prevant
you from using any arrangement in which the photographs are
mounted on a drum or shaft, unless as I have stated, Mr. Weber
or Mr. Aiken can produoe a device differing radically from those
heretofore employed.
The next best thing to. do in my opinion, is to
carry the cards on &n endless belt, and this can be safely done. :
Of course, many patents have been granted on machines of this
sort following the original Sellers patent of 1861, and before ;
putting out a machine suggest that a further examination be
made to satisfy ourselves that claims on details of construction
are not infringed. Of the many patents which I have examined, .5
I have selected the following as disclosing structural features
which might inadvertently be used, but which, of course, Should ft;
be carefully avoided:- '
No. 4 - A.T.M.
The Dickson patent No. 636,500 of November 7th, 1899,
(copy enclosed) showing specifically a belt machine, covers
an arrangement in which two stops are employed, one of which
successively releases the pictures and the other of which
successively arrests the pictures flatwise in position for
observation. This arrangement, you will note, is quite differ¬
ent from that disclosed in the Casler patent No. 549,309, in
which a single stop is used, the pictures being successively
observed before being released, whereas with the DickBon patent
the pictures are successively observed after being released.
The Casler patent, No. 652,714 of .Tune 26th, 1900,
(copy enclosed) discloses mechanism for controlling by a- cg'in
the operation of the picture carrier, and releasing the pic¬
tures from tension at the end of the operation, and particular
care shoijitdbe taken not to copy any of these features.
The KoopmanU patent. No. 713,312 of November 11, 1902,
(copy enclosed) covers an apparatus in which a number of lenses
for viewing the pictures are employed, whereby the photographs
can be observed simultaneously by several people.
(copy enclosed
The Warren patent No. 721,261 of February 24th, 1903,
covers a maohine in which the photographs are secured to an
endless belt byrmaans of an accordion plaited strip.
The Jerkins patent No. 779,364 of January 3, 1905,
(copy enclosed) covers an arrangement in whioh the photographs
are secured in position by an elastic cement.
Although I have drawn your attention specifically to
a few patents covering const motional details which in the
designing of a new machine might otherwise be inadvertently
copied, kindly bear in mind that there are a large number of
other patents containing claims on other details, bo that in
order to be safe, I repeat my suggestion that after you have
settled on the form of machine to be uBed, you submit drawings
of the same to me, and 1 will give you a final opinion as to
whether its const ruction infringes any patents. For this
purpose, kindly preserve the enclosed copies of patents, as I
have no other copies of the same.
FLD/ARK.
Yours very truly,
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Correspondence
National Waterproof Film Company
This folder contains correspondence, agreements, and other documents
relating to a waterproof, protective coating used on films manufactured by the
Edison Manufacturing Co. and other licensees of the Motion Picture Patents
Co. The selected items cover the years 1909-1910. Most of the
correspondence is by Frederick K. Babson, Walter A. Daniels, and Frederick
B. Thompson of the National Waterproof Film Co. and by George F. Scull of
the Edison Manufacturing Co. and Motion Pictures Patent Co. Some of the
documents relate to meetings with George Eastman of the Eastman Kodak
Co., Jeremiah J. Kennedy of the American Mutoscope & Biograph Co. and
General Film Co., William N. Selig of the Selig Polyscope Co., and George K.
Spoor of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Co.
Approximately 20 percent of the documents have been selected. The
unselected documents include directors’ minutes; financial statements; patent
applications and drawings; and an agreement involving Babson, Daniels, and
Thompson.
The National
Waterproof Film Company
of moving picture films indefinitely extended.
:ess prevents rubbing, scratches and wear.
(Patent applied for.)
Telephone Kedzie
2JJ5-2JI7 West Adams Street
Chicago,
March,
29th,
1909.
Prank L. Dyer, Pres.,
Motion Picture Patents Co.,
New York, II. Y.
Bear Sir:-
We assume that you have heard of our process. That
you may know all about it we suggest that you have ub prepare
a reel which can be thoroughly teBted under your immediate
supervision; after this and before incorporating our bUBineBS
and its patents the writer would oe glad to spend an evening with
you in New York. It is possible that mutual advantages might
result.
We are in no particular hurry, except as to sample reel
which should be done at once to provide ample time for your com¬
plete investigation.
Requesting early consideration, and reply, we remain
Yours very truly,
NATIONAL WATERPROOF F]
■ ■ V-/\ l
l < ~ - 'r/'^
, i
Prange, li.J. , April 2, 1909. 1
National Waterproof Film Company,
i 2115 We at Adams Street,
i Chioago, 111. t
Gentlemen:-
Yours of the 29th ult. haB been reoeived hy
15r* Dyer, who direote me to soy that he is interested of
course in investigating any new prooess which v/ill im-
prove film, but that he does not understand what your
prooess does, nor what you would like to have him do in
order to test it. Is he to understand that you wish to
have a film sent to you so that your prooess may be ap-
’ . ■ i
plied to it, or do you submit a reel to be tested by us? ?
Yours very truly.
' . ?
OIB/aHK. Secretary, !
1
!i
|
i
, ,f .
' • / . '
June 3, 1909
W.D. Daniels, Iteq.,
National Waterproofing Film Co.,
2116 V/est Adams Street, .
Chicago, Ill.
Tty dear to. Daniels:-
On Tuesday last, a seotion of non-
inflammable film was forwarded to you for to. Thompson’s
experiments. I hare only just teen able to interview our
Chemist in regard to the acetate of cellulose arri. itB boI-
cents, in which Ur. Thompson is also interested. I find
that this ec et at e of oellulose oannot be purchased in this
country and is quite expensive, but our Chemist has agreed
to make up some and coat a Beotion of film with it to ascer¬
tain whether or not it is practicable. This matter is of
course of no. great urgency, in view of the feet that non-
inflammable ffilra will not be on the market for sometime.
In regard to the- other matters to v/hioh you wish¬
ed me to call Hr. Dyer’s attention, I am unable to write you
very definitely at this time. to. Dyer suggested that
either he or I would again oome to Chicago in a short time
and theBe matters oan be definitely determined then. to.
Dyer suggests that while it would be proper for you to con¬
tinue to coat film for independents, you should be very
n
V/.D. Daniels, Esq.'.,
careful about making ary definite oontraot with Murdock.
Yours very truly.
GFS/AHK .
Assistant to Vice-President,
I hand you herewith copy of an agreement
between Dab son and Daniels, which waB executed by them
on the 15th inst. 1 also hand you an agreement in dupli¬
cate between Mr. Edison and Babson, which has been signed
by Babson. If this last agreement is satisfactory, Mr.
Edison should execute it in duplicate, and an executed
copy should be sent to Mr. Babson. I explained to Mr.
Babson that you had not seen this agreement, so “that
if there are any points which you think should be changed
it may be readily done.
Ho license agreement between the Edison Company
and the Y/aterproof ing Company was signed, of course, but
I hand you herewith a proposed agreement, copy of which
was left with Daniels.
Daniels is now getting bids on the cost of making
the coating and drying maohinery. The Be machines as- at
present designed have a capacity of about 12 reelB per
day. It would probably be best for the Edison ©ompany to
install three of these machines, in order to provide for
emergencies and the possibility of the machines not
running steadily. Mr. Daniels estimates, and I agree wilii
him, that each machine will cost about $500. and with the
air pump and tank necessary for a Bet of three mmchineB
this involves an investment' of $1800. for the Edison
Company plant. Coating material at the present time
cost them about §2. a gallon, and one gallon coats four
reels. In order to provide for the aging of this materi¬
al, enough should he mixed to he at least one month ahead
of the demand, and this v/ill involve a further expenditure
of about $300. for the Edison Company.
The pay-roll of the Waterproof ing Company at pre¬
sent is about $125 . a week, Daniels and Thompson taking
$15. each, and the rental is $25. a week. The umount of
business done by them does not pay these expenses, J&y
reason of the great variation in the work from week to
week, At Daniels could not give me very much of an idea
what they could expect their income to be.
Assuming that the Edison Company alone goeB into
this proposition, it would be at least two months before
the machinery can be built and installed, and during
that time Daniels and Thompson would be entitled to $30.
per week. This will raise the weekly expenses to $150.
roughly, and will require $1200. before the machinery is
installed. This, with the $1800 for the machinery, and
$300. for the material, will involve about$3300. before
any royalties will begin to accrue,, and since theBe roy¬
alties would not be paid except possibly at the end of
each quarter, enough more money would have to be pro¬
vided for to pay the running expenses, which would prob¬
ably involve about $2,000. more for a quarter.
To summarize: an estimated expenditure of between five
and Bix thousand dollars would he required(before any
quarterly royalties would he collected) to pay expenses
to install machinery for the Edison Company, and to
provide coating material in advance of the demand.
The approximate cost per reel, on the basis of
$2. royalty, and §4. a gallon for the coating material,
(which includes a profit of 100#) and labor,?: will be
§3.25.
I also hand you herewith three sections of film,
one being inflammable and coated, one being non-inf lammalfc
and coated, and the other non-inflammable and not coated.
You will note that the coating makes the non-inflammable
film somewhat inflammable. Mr. hylsworth has started on
an experiment to determine whether or not the solution of
acetate of cellulose can be applied to a film.
So far as the art developed in the Patent Office
searches is concerned, apparently there is nothing to af¬
fect the validity of any patents which mjy be obtained
on the present inventions of the Waterproofing Company.
The drier is undoubtedly new, although of course it is
possible to construct a drier on radically different
lines. The coating machine is novel, ahtough, of course,
coating machines for similar purposes have been made
before ahd probably could be adapted for this new use.
The air head is probably radically new, but 1 am somewhat
disturbed about the probability that the coating can be
-4-
done by other methods, hut possibly not so satisfactorily.
Possibly, patents on the prooess and product are very li3®-
ly open to attaolc on the ground of prior use. You will
remenib®r that Mr. Marvin said that he had coated films a
tZUyfyuJoi) lonS time aS° and Selig states that he did so nine
: ^*H*^*'^year s ago, reciting at considerable ' length the details.
^^'The latter claims that he prevented the holes from fill¬
ing up by running the wet film over a sprocket. Whether
or not theBe uses vtere abandoned experiments crr^ngt , it
is of course very difficult to state no v/.
The following matters should be .determined :-
(1) Is the Edi son-Babson agreement satisfactory?
(2) Is the Babson-Daniel agreement satisfactory?
ITote that there is no provision for the equal division of
the income and that even if Mr. Edison takes out $15,000.
worth of stock, he will obtain only 25$ of the dividends,
and therefore, the actual cost to the Edison Company, fi¬
guring a profit of $2.50 for the Waterproofing Company
per reel, would be over $2.$0 per reel.
(3) Will the present coating material be satis¬
factory, or must it be made absolutely fireproof?
(4) Is the proposed license agreement substan¬
tially as you would like it, and such aB Daniels <jould
propose to the other Manufacturers with some prospect of
their adopting it?
(5) 'If the license agreement is substantially
satisfactory, then such an agreement should made with the
-5-
Waterproofing Company, and orders given to start tajti the
making of the machinery and provision made for the proper
coating material, and at the same time, provision should
he made for a room suitable for this coating operation:.
G. S’ .(Scull.
GPS/ARK.
The National Waterproof Film ‘Company
2115-2117 West Adams Street
Mr. Geo. F. Saull,
o/o Edison Mfg. Co.,
Orange, II. J.
, JUN^'909
g.f.sculu^
Our friends Messrs. Selig and Kleine have so far failed
to call. I think the Crown Point Automobile Races are responsible for last
Friday's and Saturday's neglect. I understand that Mr. S. paid for exclusive
privilege of taking pictures of the race but found the Phoenix people there
also. The story is out that S. then lead an assault and. captured the Ehoenix
camera, returning it, however, after an hour or so.
I mailed yesterday a veiled, reminder as per copy enclosed to both
S . and K. .
Our corporation is progressing as fast as possible. The first
meeting will be held Monday next. Our proposition of sale will then be_ sub¬
mitted (with inventory attached) and a day or so later formally accepted .
Then will follow the resignation of the first directors after which the new
election and then we shall be ready for business. Our inventory is completed.
All debts are paid except' Gillson's, and he has not yet furnished a bill but
promised to do so this week. Machinery drawings are practically finished
and two houses are now figuring on proposition of manufacture.
If you have any news which you think I ought to know I should be
pleased to hear from you.
Y/ith best regards to Mr. Dyer and yourself, believe me
Yours very truly.
[ENCLOSURE]
*
Vim. If. Selig, Pros.,
Selig Polyscope Co.,
Chicago.
Chicago,
June,
190.9.vw
| JUNSiiiaua.
^ 0. F. SCULL.
Dear Sir:-
your customers may wish waterproofed! We^rtll 13,15 fs
^roS^sSMPm0nt3*' 0ur co^otions to b^f matter
«*ams
itSSfaliSfSja-
Meanwhile wo remain
Yours veiy truly; • V
HAT IOHAIi V/ATERPROOP FIIjM COKPAHY 1, '
PER ' ■'
./ The NaMonal Waterproof Film ^Company
The life of moving picture fllmi
Process prevents rubbing, sc
(Patent applied
Telephone Kedzie 694
Chicago,
June,
28th,
1909.
J. A. Berst, Vioo-Pres.,
Bathe Freres,
Hew York, H.' Y.
Dear Sir:- ,
Answering yours of tho 26th, we spread a waterproof solution
oyer_7?® emulsion of the film whioh dries as hard as the celluloid side .
•[•he film is therefore less liable to scratch, hut the great advantage is
that scratches which may ooour oan he washed out hy simply reeling
through a wet rag held in the hand. Hot or cold water may he used
with soapsuds or without. A fresh scratch shows white on the soreen and
detracts hut little from the picture. It soon fills, however, with
opaque dust and dirt and becomes a black mark across the soreen. many
of these producing what is called a rainy film. '<• ’ .
He claim that if. films are made washable by our process, and
exchanges are educated to wash them once a woek or so the pictures will
be free from rain as long as they are shown. We olaim that the manu¬
facturers are vitally interested in exhibiting to the publio the best
possible pictures and "best" necessarily means clean films. He may say
here in parenthesis, that the life of a waterproof film like any, other
depends upon the sprocket holes, but our proposition guarantees a dean
picture as long as the sprocket holeB will carry it. We claim further
that our preparation brightens the picture because of its highly polished
finish, it being a Boientifio fact that light penetrates more easily a
shiny surface than a dull one. We olaim to do away with all tendenay
of stioking at the gate, alBO that the loop has less vibration and there¬
fore shows a steadier pioture.
If all films were waterproofed it would be a barrier to duping;
while it is easy to copy a film it would be difficult to waterproof it
wo control tho process and machinery whioh spreads the solution all
around the sprocket holes without dogging or going through them. !0his'
with the drying machinery would moan prohibitive outlay for the average
duper besides making him liable under our patents *
^ ^ Our waterproofing is of connse best applied to brand new films
but on account of release day customer we have been obliged to do most
of our work on old reels after oleaning them with chemicals.
We have already placed before Ur. Dyer, President of the Motion
The National Waterproof Film jPompany
2J 15-2117 West Adams Street
Telephone Kedzie 694
Chicago,
J. A‘ B.— #2.
Picture Patents Company a plan by which this invention may he controlled
' “y tl10 I>ioeilsees ot the Patents Company which would dlfferenoiato their
filmo from all competitors. V.’e should he glad to have you confer with
hr. Dyer regarding it as we believe he has given the subject considerable
investigation. Whatever may come of this exclusive proposition later.
ai1xTe aak now la that yQur Iir- Montagu will let ub have reelB in advance
of his regular shipping days so that we can waterproof for snoh of your
customers as want it, we to return them to Mr. Montagu in time for his
regular shipments* Heels obtained in the morning we can rehum in
the afternoon without delaying or discommoding him in any way.
V/e heliove this will ho an accommodation' to some of your cus¬
tomer a who appreoiate our process and a greater one to us for which we
shall sinoerely thank you.
With best wishes, we remain
Yours very truly,
IIATIOHAL WATERPROOF FILM CO.
PER .
Mr. Prank L. Dyer,
c/o Nat * 1 . Phonograph Co.,
Orange, IT. J.
Dear Mr. Dyer:
We yesterday completed the incorporation of the National
Y/aterproof Film Co. Mr., Daniel says his requirements for the next
30 to 60 days will be in the neighborhood of $10,000. This, aB I .
understand it is for the building of six complete apparatuses, all
of which are now in the process of construction; the rest is for
the cost of material for doing the coating, which X understand
has to be allowed to stand for some time after being mixed to get
the best results.
FKB/125
(?h)icag 0,7/6/09
RECEIVED.
Mr. Prank L. Dyer, I JUL 81909 |
• o/o Nat' 1. Phonograph Co., t FRANK L. OYER. )
Orange, N.J. V -
Dear Mr. Dyer:
I enolose herewith copy of Escrow Agreement, also copy
of Bylaws, I wish you would go over both of these carefully. I
understand that the Escrow Agreement is the one you perferred of
the two sent down. If it is not exactly in accordance with your
wishes let us know at once and we will get together and have such
changes made as are necessary, also go over the bylaws carefully
and see if they are entirely satisfactory.
, 1 ^ve had nothing whatever to do with the drawing of
*■-. tm!** Loesoh says they were drawn exaotly in accordance
with Mr. ocull s instructions. So as to carry out the Escrow
Agreement and to have money enough .an hand until my return I
advanced §10,000 for stock which has been put in Escrow as you
will note by the Escrow Agreement, but with the provision that if
you considered *10,000 more than you wished to put in at thiB
time can withdraw whatever amount you thought was more than
necessary to use in the next month or six weeks.
°f your telegram and presume we will have
word with definite instructions from Mr. Scull in a few davs at '
which time we will draw out whatever part of the §10,000 is in
. excess of what you think necessary. I understand from Mr. Daniels
£nV°?RITt3 a? 1!t 7*11 re<iuire considerable money in the
next 30 to 45 days. As will be gone I wish you would have “r.
oouil give definite instructions as to just how much money you
wish to advance and my brothers can b irry our your instructions.
BKB/125
[ENCLOSURE]
RECORD OP SPECIAL MEETING
of the Board of Bisectors
of the national Waterproof Film Co. ^
LT-1 o'clock P?'>,;.eglPla °n th0 3rdj day °f July 1909
Present
B . W . Snyder
Ray Palmer
C. F. Loosch
P. W. Sullivan
T)iob. H. Stevenson
C. F. Locust presiding.
The Secretary roports that he had caused the charter to he
recorded an the Recorder's Office of Coolc County, Illinois- that
he had procured the seal and stock hook and necessary stationery!
Mr. otevenson and Mr. uoesch submitted By-laws for the V
company; the by-laws appearing on pages is to 18 imnluslve
were unanimously adopted as the By-laws of this corporation.
The proposition of Mr. W.A. Daniels and Idr. F.B. Thomnson
which was submitted to the Board of Directors at its last
meeting was then read by the Secretary and in that proposition
^lS-Sll^West^tteS^qt t0c!+e th0ir 'busin®ss situated at
* <3117 west Adams St., City of Chicago, together with all
interest in all furniture and fixtures, ail stationery and books
in trade, all machinery, cash on hand and all bills
receivable, all contracts for work to be performed under the patents
referred to, together, with the good will of said bu^ness! P
.nto„, ?°/1ai1 interest in application for United States
na^?^s+fpplls5* f?r and not allov/ed on any improvements on such
applications which may be made in the future by either of said
parties or any patents which may be applied for in the United
States or Europe by either of them torching thl art ol Kerproofinr
nartt A„iVSni 00?1tins n,??hin?s» filra drying machines and more S
particularly the application of W. A. Daniels for United States
patent or a web coating machine applied for Jan. 28th 19 8
Serial *0.474916, also application for film drying macMne Applied
1 38th> 19u8. s®rial No .474795. Also an application for
fortSsr,+ taitfv,Pa!lnp byQP'?* Thomppon Picture films applied
for Sept, Hth, 1908, Serial Ho. 452,8-15, two of which mentioned
applications have been allowed by the Patent Office of the United
States, but upon which no patents have as yet been issued.
Also to make any and all applications for patents in foreign
UP?» any and all patents for which they have made S
application in the United States which have been allowed on which
may hereafter be allowed or. be applied for by them touching the
art of water proofing films or web coating machinery and tf assi-n
w.hen allowed to the Company for the consideration of one
° :dfl9ur08 th! oaPital st°ck of the Company to be issued
to them fully pnffld and non-as sea sable .
V 4., Mr' S*-''* Snyder and Ur. C. F. Loesch the committee appointed
by the Board of Birectoro, thereupon made their report showing that
th!ywhSVLmade an investigation of the business of said W? A Daniels
and F.B. Thompson and they found that the assetts consisted ol
furniture, fixtures, stationery and books, fctook in trade maohinerv
ZL°^a“d+anJ receivable , contracts for work to be perfumed
^11 ^ t0 1° is3U0d’ a11 of which were free and clear of d
•ni+bft b ThSy ?lB° -reported that they had investigated the value
earning capacity of the patents and in their judgment “I
b°j^+£ earnings of the patents and the water proofing process
and the chemical solutions which will be protected bythe parents
to be issued ought to be at least §100,000.00 per year arid thev'
boCacceptod^at ^ propoQitlon of Messrs. Daniels^nd Thompson
/:Fter a discussion of the proposition and the report it
was .duly moved and seconded that the proposition of Mess-s. Daniels
and Thompson be accepted din accordance with the said proposition as
herein-before set forth and that the President and the Secretary
be and are hereby authorized to issue to Messrs Daniels and Thompson
of°thBi£nmte °S ?£00k ?f one thousand shares of the capital stock
of the company fully paid and non-assessable upon delivery by said
Daniels and Thompson of a proper bill of sale and assignment covering
a £ !:!?B^r.by.£h®m of all_ their rights, interest and property as ^
set forth in their preposition unanimously carried, J
Thereupon Mr. Ray Palmer, tendered his resignation as a director
to take effect immediately which resignation was duly accepted on
[ENCLOSURE]
motion duly seconded and adopted. Hr. H.B. Babson was elected
a Director for thg unexpired term of Hay Palmer, resigned. Mr.
Babson at once took his seat as one of the Director! in place of Mr.
Palmer.
Thereupon Mr. Thomas II. Stevenson presented his resignation as
a Director to take effect immediately which was duly accented and
“r* ! Stevenson thereupon retired on motion duly seconded and adopted
Mr. F.K. Babson was elected a Director to fill the unexpired term of
Mr. Stevenson resigned, and he at once tbok the seat in the meeting.
Thereupon Mr. P.W. Sullivan tendered his resignation as a Director
and Secretary of the Company to take effect immediately which was
duly accepted and Mr. Sullivan thereupon retired.
On Motion duly made and seconded Mr. G. Babson was elected
Director and Secretary to fill the unexpired term of Hr-P .V/. Sullivan
f'esignedy and he 'immediately took his seat as such Director and Secretary.
Thereupon Mr. B.W. Snyder tendered his resignation as a Director
and Vice President to take effect immediately which was duly accepted
and M.A. Snyder retired from the meeting. On motion duly made,
seconded and adopted Mr. F.B. Thompson was elected a Direotor and Vice
President for the unexpired term of Mr. B.W. Snyder resigned, and
immediately took his seat in the meeting.
Thereupon Mr.C.F.Loesch tendered his resignation as a Director
and as President and Treasurer of the Company to take effect
immediately which was duly aocepted and he thereupon retired. On
motion duly made and seconded Mr.W.A.Daniels was elected Director
and •‘resident to succeed Mr.C.F.Loesch, resigned and “r. F.K. Babson
was elected Treasury? in place of Mr. Loesch resigned, Mr. Daniels
taking his seat immediately in the meeting.
On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried the
following section, was added to Artiole 2 of the By-laws as Section
. 8 of Article 2.
"In the event of the death, resignation or inability to act of
either W.A. Daniels or F.B. Thompson as Director, President and Vioe
^rofcident, respectively the one remaining on the Board shall have
the right to name the successors to be appointed in plaoe of the
one resigning or becoming incapacitated to act as Directors or
officers of the Company and in the event of the death, resignation
or inability to act of either of the Directors, F.K. Babson, G. Babson
or H.B. Babson, the two remaining Babsons on the Board shall have the
power to name the successor to fill the unexpired term of such party
resigning or becoming incapacitated to act as a Director or officer
of the Board."
On motion duly made and Beconded the salary of Mr.W.A.Daniels
as President for the present shall be at the rate of $1300.00 per
year to be paid weekly, said salary to cover not only the the
Presidency of the Company but all other work to be done by Mr, Daniels
in connection with the Company and he shall agree to give his beBt
efforts to advance the interest of the Company during his employment.
The motion was duly pat. by Mr. G. Babson, Secretary and the same
was carried, Mr. W.A. Daniels not voting.
Mr. Daniels thereupon Btatod to the meeting that he would enter
the employ of the Company and to. the best of his ability and efforts
advance the interest of the company and that the salary as fixed
was satisfactory to him.
On motion duly made and seconded the salary for the present
of Mr. F.B. Thompson as Vioe President Shall be at the .rate of $1500.00
por year to be paid weekly; . said salary to cover not only the Vice
i residency of the Company but all other work to be done by Mr.
Thompson in connection with the Company and he shall agree to give
his pest effortst.tQ advance the interest of the Company during his
employment. The motion was put by Mr. G. Babson, Secretary and the
same was carried, Mr. F.B. Thompson not voting. Mr. Thompson thereupon
stated to the meeting that hh would enter the employ of the Company
and to the best of his ability advance the interest of the company
ana that the salary as fixed was satisfactory to him. Mr Thompson
offered the following resolutions. .
Whereas: W.A. Daniels and F.B. Thompson are the owners of 1000- i
shares of the capital stock of the Company and whereas said Daniels !
and Thompson have entered into an agreement of June 15th, 1909 with
F.K. Babson to give him an option to buy 500 shares of Baid capital
stock at its face value from time to time, with the understanding
that the money realized from said sale of stock should he used by.
the Company in its business and
Whereas: said Babson has agreed to immediately purchase 100 shares
of said stock of $10,000.00 the money to he turned over. to the
treasurer of this company and said Babson has agreed to buy the
additional 400, shares of stock if more money shall be needed.
[ENCLOSURE]
9
Now wherefore, said Daniels and Thompson for the better
protection of said Babson hereby offer to place and do plaoe in
trust with the Treasurer of said company 500 shares of the capital
stock subject to the conditions of the contract existing between
said Daniels and Thompson and said Babson.
Hr. Babson moved that the offer embodied by the resolution
offered by Mr, Thompson be accepted and the Treasurer directed to
accept said stook.
Unanimously oarried.
The following resolutions was unanimously adopted.
Resolved that the funds of the Company be deposited in the
Corn Exchange National Bank in the name of the National Waterproof
Film Co., and that the same shall be checked out upon the signature
of Frederick K. Babson, Treasurer countersigned by Walter A. Daniels
President.
Percy W. Sullivan,
Secy, for the first part of mooting.
July 7,1909,
Ered'k K. Babson, Hb<1.,
Marshall Boulevard, California Ave.
Chicago, Ill.
& 18th St. ,
Dear Dir
Mr Dyer received yours of the 3d ins t. yesterday
and wired you as follows:*
"ilot very familiar details waterproof film
situation. Scull out of town returns tomorrow.
Ify general understanding ten thousand much too
high . "
"Will telegraph you tomorrow regarding
waterproof film."
?fr. Dyer instructs me fo write in Borne detail just
what he would like to have done with this oompany now that
you have control of it. You should underatand that the
whole matter is an experimental one, and that Mr. Edison
does not wish to put any more money in the conoern than is
necessary, until the practicability of the whole soherae has
been determined, and it is Mr. Dyer's idea that money should
only as it is required to develop the business,
as we know, the only expenditures for. the next
two months vihile the three coating and drying machines re-
bc advanced
Do. far
§
#2 Fred. K. Batson, Esq.
quired by the Edison Manufacturing Company ore being built,
will be the pay roll, the cost of this uiaohinery, and possi¬
bly the cost of a certain amount of coating material, to
be laid down in advance. At the time X was in Chicago, no
orders were given for any machinery, and if Mr. Daniels has
Ordered more than three machines (the number required by the
Edison Company) , he is evidently doing it on the assumption
that there will be at least one more licensee, although I
do not know why he should think !3 since no one of the
Manuf scturers has evinced Uny great interest in the matter
so far.
According to Mr. Daniels, the present pay roll of
the comp any is about §125. per week, Kr. Daniels and Mr.
Thompson each taking §15. u0w that the company is formed,
they are entitled to §3C. per Weak, under their agreement
with you, and this increase, with the §25. a week rent that
they are now paying, will bring the weekly expense to §150.
We. assume that it will be at least two months before the
coating machinery oan be installed in the Edison Company's
plant, and it will be necessary, therefore, to provide about
$.1200. for the pay roll during this time. ■ I .do not know
what the cost of the machinery for.the Edison Company will
be, but it probably will «0t amount to more than §2,000. *
It would not be advisable to prepare any consider¬
able amount of coating material for the Edison Company,
since it is possible that We will n0t use the coating com-
#3
Fred. K. Babson, Esq.
pound which the Waterproofing Company is UBing at the
present ti me, this compound Rawing a tendenoy to increase
the inflammability of anon-inflammable film. In any
event, I do not thinlc it is desirable to provide for more
than one month's supply of tliis material, and figuring it at
a coat of $3. a gallon, thi s -would involve more than $3,000.
I certainly believe -that none of this material should be
mixed until the nacliineD are pretty well along, and in
fact, possibly, not until they begin to install them at
the pKpt here.
You will note from the foregoing, that §3500,
would cover the proba-ble expenditures for sixty days. If,
in addition, llr. Daniels ha3 ordered six coating machines,
instead of three for the Edison Company, this may increase
the outlay another §1500. or §2,000. Even with, this added,
you will see that $5 , 000. will be sufficient for the ex¬
penses of the company until September 1st, unless there iB
some change in the prospects, and even this amount of money
would riot be all required at once. You will note Also that
the foregoing items do not include any possible income which
may be derived from -the coating of films for exchanges.
I.Ir . Dyer's idea is that you should put in the trea¬
sury $3,000. now and advance additional money as it may
be required. In accordance with the above, I telegraphed
you today as follows:-
Fred. K. Batson, Esq.
#4
"Am writing fully today. Ho need
of putting in more than three thousand
dollars now."
}Sr. Dyer will probably take up the matter of
the agreements v;ith Jir. Edison today, and your copy will he
forwarded to you as soon as they ore signed, together v/ith
a draft for the $3,000.
Yours very truly.
ofb/ark.
Assistant to Vice-President,
[ATTACHMENT!
- LICENSE AGREEMENT -
(a) THIS AGREEMENT made this day of
19Q9, by and between the NATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY, a
corporation organized and existing tinder the laws of the State of-
Illinois, and having an office at Chicago in said State, party of
the first part, (hereinafter referred to as the "Licensor"), and
the EDISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, a corporation organized and ex¬
isting under the laws of the State of Hew Jersey, and having an
office at Orange in said State, party of the second part, (herein¬
after referred to as the "Licensee"): WITNESSETH
(h ) WHEREAS, the Licensor represents that it has de¬
veloped processes and machinery for waterproofing motion picture
film and owns and controls said processes and machinery, and the
following named inventions and applications for Patents of the United
States therefor and any United States or foreign patents which may
be granted thereon:
Application of Walter A. Daniel, for '
WEB COATING MACHINES , filed January 28,
1909, Serial Ho. 474,816;
Application of Fredrick B. Thompson,
for FILM DRYING MACHINES, filed January
28th, 1909, Serial No. 474,795;
Application of Fredrick B. Thompson,
for PICTURE FILMS, filed September 14, 1908,
Serial No. 452,945:
and
(e) WHEREAS, the Licensee is engaged in the manufacture
and sale of motion picture films under a license from the Motion
Picture Patents Company, a corporation having its principal place
of business in Hew York City and is desirous of obtaining from the
Licensor a license under the inventions and applications for patents
therefor relating to the waterproofing of motion picture films
be '
which may. hereafter acquired by the Licensor.
[ATTACHMENT]
(4) MOW, THJBIUSFORE, the parties hereto for and in
consideration of the sura of One Dollar to each in hand paid hy the
other and of other good and valuable considerations, from each
to the other moving, receipt of all of which is hereby acknowledged,
have agreed as follows
(1) The licensor hereby grants to the licensee for the
term and subject to the covenants, conditions and stipulations
hereinafter expressed, the right and license for the United States,
its territories and possessions, to use the processes and inventions
referred to in Paragraph (b) hereof, and any inventions relating
to the wat erproof ing of motion picture films which the Licensee
may hereafter acquire, in coating motion picture films made by
the licensee and to sell or lease the motion picture films so
coated by it. The license hereby granted is personal to the Licensee
and in the event of the permanent discontinuance of retirement
from business of the Licensee for a period of ^consecutive months,
the license hereby granted shall be immediately terminated.
(2) The Licensee hereby recognizes and admits the valid¬
ity of each and every United States letters Patent which may be
obtained by the licensor on any of the applications referred to
in Paragraph (b) hereof, and of any other Letters Patent which may
be obtained by the Licensor for. any inventions relating to the
waterproofing of motion picture films which may hereafter be ob¬
tained or acquired by the Licensor and the Licensee agrees not to
contest or question the same during the continuance of this agree¬
ment .
(3j The licensor agrees that, as soon as practicable
after the date of this agreement, it will manufacture and install
in the , plant of the licensee in a suitable building to be provided
by the licensee, coating and drying machines ready to be connected
to a source of power to be provided by the licensee, such machinery
to be made in accordance with the latest approved plans of the
-2-
[ATTACHMENT!
Licensor und sufficient in a opacity to coat all of the motion
picture films mu do hy tho Licensee. She cost of manufacturing
una installing such machinery and of making all rousonahlo re-
pairs thereto or^roplaaement of worn parts thereof, shall he paid
for hy tho Licensor and such naehinory shall at all times remain
tho property of the Licensor. Any motor or other source of power
for ouoh machinory shall he installed and paid for hy tho Licensee,
i’ho Licensor further agrees to Instruct tho employees of the Licensee
in the proper methods of handling and using such machinery ana in
working tho prooesoos owned hy it for the coating of films, and
tho Liconsor further agrees to attach to each of its coating
machines a suitable countor to measure tho number of running feet
of film coated on such machines, such countor shall ho provided
with a cover over the dials thereof, and a look for such oovor,
and tho key to such lock shall he placed in tho possession of the
Licensee ana no officor or ugont of tho •Lioeneor shall have the
right of acceas to such dials, ana the Licensee agrees that ouoh
counter and its connection with Q(1id coating machine shall not
he disturbed, displaced or tampered with in any way.
(4) The Licensee oovonants and agroos^durlng the existence
of this agreement to coat all motion picture films plaoed on the
market hy it on such machinery installed hy the Licensor and to pay
to the Liconsor quarterly, within fifteen (IB) days after the first
days of January, April, July and October, royaltios at the rate
of two (2) mills per running foot on all filmB coated by it during
tho proceeding quarter. Tho amount of such films so ooatod shall
he determined by the counter or oounters uttaohed to the maohinory
installed hy the Liconsor and the reading of the counter or
coimtors at tho end of caoh quarter shall ho done hy a certified
accountant who shell he agreed upon hy the parties hereto, and who
alone, in addition to tho Licensoo, shall have a right, to read
suoh counter or oounters. l'he said certified accountant shall
-3-
[ATTACHMENT]
render a statement at the end of each quarter to the Licensee
of the amount of film which he finds to have teen coated "by the
Licensee during thato quarter, and the Licensee shall make payments
of royaltios due therefor^ to the saia accountant within fifteen
days after the rendition of said statement. The said accountant
shall then report to the Licensor the gross amount of royalties
collected by him from the licensee and any other licensees of the
Licensor, who may at that time be licensed to use the Licensor's
processes and machinery for the coating of films, ana the certified
accountant shall not reveal in any manner, either directly or
indirectly, to the Licensor,, or any other of the said licensees,
the amount of film coated by the Licensee.
(5) The Licensor further covenants and agrees to keep
said machinery in good repair and to aid by its expert advice in
overcoming any difficulties which the Licensee may experience from
time to time in the coating of its films, and the Licensee cove¬
nants and agrees that the employees of the Licensor may have access
to the said machinery at all reasonable times for the purpose of
inspection and repair.
(6) The licensee further covenants and agrees to use
in the coating of its films only the coating compound supplied
by and purchased from the Licensor, and the Licensor agrees to
furnish such coating compound prepared according to its latest and
best formulae at a price not to exceed §4.00 per gallon.
(7) The licensor further covenants and agrees that it
will not, without the consent of the Licensee, grant licenses for
the use of its machineiy and processes on more favorable terms than
those provided in this agreement/
(8) The Licensor further covenants and agrees to use
its best endeavors to make license agreements similar to this agree¬
ment with each and every manufacturer and importer of motion pic-
[ATTACHMENT]
tures licensed toy the said Motion Picture Patents Company, and
further agrees not to so license. any manufacturer or importerinof
motion pictures who or which is not licensed toy the said Motion
Picture Patents Company, provided that such licensees
of the said Motion Picture Patents Company, including the present
licensee, shall enter into agreements with it, similar to the
present agreement. If, however, ^fteny one year after the ante of
this agreement, the licensor has not in-force license agreements
with at least 'fiteae of the licensees of the Motion Picture Patents
Company, it shall toe at liberty to enter into agreements for the
coating of films with other manufacturers and importers of motion
pictures. She licensor further agrees not to coat films for any
exchange not licensed toy the Motion Picture Patents Company while
id so long as it has existing license agreements with at least
- manufacturers or importers licensed toy the Motion Picture
Patents Company.
(9) It is mutually covenanted and agreed toy and be¬
tween the licensor and the licensee that unless sooner terminated
as hereinbefore or hereinafter provided, this agreement and the
license granted thereby, shall take effect on the date hereof and
shall continue until June 20th, 1910, hut that the licensee may
renew this agreement and license thereafter from year to year
on the same terms, conditions and stipulations, as hereinafter
provided, toy giving notice to the licensor on or. before the 20th
day of March in each year, beginning with the year 1910, of the
licensee's election to so renew this agrementjprovided, however,
that no royalties for the coating of film shall he paid toy the
licensee until the said machinery shall have been completely
installed toy the licensor in the plant of the licensee, and the
employees of the licensee have been suitably instructed toy the
licensor as to the coating of such films. Phis period of instruc¬
tion shall not, however, exceed fourteen (14) days after the com-
[ATTACHMENT]
plete installation of the said machinery.
(10) It is further mutually covenanted and agreed by
and between the licensor and the licensee that if the processes
and machinery for coating film under which this license is granted,
proves, after 90 days' use by the licensee, to be so unsuitable
for the purposes for which they are intended as to make the fur¬
ther use thereof by the licensee undesirable commercially, then the
licensee shall have the right to terminate this license and agreement
on thirty (30) days written notice to the licensor, such notice
to be given at the end of the said 90 days. The licensee shall
also have the right after ninety (90) days use, to terminate this
agreement on thirty (30) days’ written notice, (such notice to
be given at the end of the said ninety (90) days) in the event of
the invention or discovery by others, of process es and machinery
for coating ifiilms which do not embody any of the inventions owned
by the licensor, which produces a product so much superior to or
cheaper than the prodtict produced by the processes and machinery
of the licensor as to make it commercially impracticable for the
licensee to continue to coat its films by the processes and machinery
of the licensor. If, however, after notice of such proposed cancel¬
lation for either of the foregoing causes, the licensor believes that
the licensee has unfairly or unjustly arrived at its conclusion in
regard to the processes and machinery of the licensor, or of the
advantages of any new processes or machinery, then the matter in
dispute shall be submitted to three arbitrators, one each to be
selected by the licensor and the licensee respectively, and these
two to select the third, and the licensor and licensee agree to abide
by the decision of a majority this board of arbitrators.
(11) It is further mutually covenanted and agreed by and
between the licensor and licensee, that if, during said original
term or during any such renewal period, either party should, knowing—,
ly or through gross neglect or carelessness, be guilty of a breach.
[ATTACHMENT]
violation or non-performance of its covenants, conditions and
stipulations, resulting in substantial injury to the other party,
and should, for the period of forty (40) days after notice thereof
from the other party persist therein or fail to correct, repair or
remedy the same then and in such case the party aggrieved may
terminate this agreement by giving notice in writing to the guilty
party of its intention so to do. It is, however, mutually
covenanted and agreed by and between the Licensor and Licensee
that if the guilty party should correct, repair or remedy such
breach, violation or non-performance of its covenants, conditions
and stipulations within the said period of forty (>40) days after
such notice, and Should thereafter knowingly or through gross
neglect or carelessness be guilty of a second breach, violation or
nonperformance of its covenants, conditions and stipulations,
resulting in substantial injury to the other party, then, and in
such case, the party aggrieved may terminate this agreement by
giving thirty (30) days notice in writing to the guilty party of
its intention so to do. Such termination of the agreement,
however, shall not prejudice either party hereto in the recovery
of damages because of any such breach, violation or non-performance
by the other party hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
agreement to be executed by their officers duly authorized to
perform these acts the day and year first above written.
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
By
’ President .
EDISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
. By
Vice-President .
[ATTACHMENT!
i! ** ! 1 / = ^ ' i
.
■ S~~' (paragraph 10 )' ■ j
The Licensee covenants and. agrees to ooat all
| _
the films marketed hy it after the installation of the
j
■machinery of the Licensor, hy such machinery, and ac-
f
cordis® to the processes o f the Licensor for a period ;
!
any time after the end of such ninety days, the Licen-
| ■
see may give thirty days written notice of its inten-
tion to terminate this agreement It it should decide that
the product, suict processes and machinery of the Licensor
sxe so itt unsuitable for the. purposes for which* they
are~i'nt-ended"a's_to~'?nak c th(T~f uxtTfer~ "u"Be~ tHe’re^of hy the
develop that the inventions owned hv the Licensor nvp
not so hroad and novel aB to prevent the #dnufacturei# ?
- : - - =*■
imcmEH and use hy others of the same, or substantially
the same, product, processes and machinery without in-
r ~
fringement of the patent rights of the Licensor or of
others, or if the Sr the r use" hy the Licensee of- the
- inventions -owned hy-the- Lie ensor-should-hecome-corameri - -
; _ cially imp r^act_i_c_abl e by r ea s.o n of th.e__iny.Gnt i o n r>y» dpj-
i
covery hy others , of processes and machinery for coating ,
films, which &f^not embody any of the inventions owned
hy the Licensor, and which processes an d.machinery pro-
duce a product swaaefe-ouperior to, or cheaper than,
the pro let produced hy the processes and machinery of
the Licensor. At- the end- of the said- thirty days , - -
— thi-s— agreement— and— the— 1-i cense-gr anted— thereby — shall- be -
— — d.eemed_te — t.erminated_by__the_Licensor_and_the_Licensea__ _
v ■
[ATTACHMENT]
\
unless the Licensor notifies the Licensee within that
y
period of its desire to suhmll6^toe^queotion whether or
not the Licensee$»fr*unfairly or unjustly arrived at its
conclusion in regard to the product, processes and raa-
chinery of the Licensor, or of the patent rights of the
— machinery., in. vdilch_.c.aae_the_ma.t.t.er_in_di^p.utje_ahall-..'b.e _
submitted as soon as possible to three arbitrators, one
each to be selected by the Licensor and Licensee respec-
tively, and these two to select the third, and the Licen-
sor and Licensee agree to abideby the decision of the
majority of this Board of arbitrators. i
* 1
1
' . |
■j . ;
|j !
July 12,1909,
Messrs, Gillson & Gillson,
Monadnock Building,
Chi a ago, Ill.
Gentleraen:-
Yours of the 9th inst. addressed to Mr, Dyer
has Been reoeived. Mr, Dyer has ^^^^'^'Burope and will
not return until the middle of September. HiB opinion in
regard to the foreign applioations is that an application
in eaoh of the three countries covering simply the artiole
will he sufficient, the practical impossibility of onfarc-
ing any patents on the maohines oausing him to believe that
no advantage could be derived from any further' expense in
connection with such application. I feel ^justified, there¬
fore, in saying that Mr, Dyer would be willing only to
stand the expense in oonneotion with an artiole application.
' If Mr. Daniels believeB that foiteij^ applications
on the machinery should be taken out, he, tjf 'course, miy
do so at hie own expense, and he may be willing to . do it,
sinoe his interests in the Company will always be atXleast
50#, and at the present time are considerably more tVinp
that. It is wholly immaterial, as I see ijt'j. what disposi-
#2
Messrs. Qillson & Gillson.
tion he should make of these foreign patents, since lioenBes
to use them would in no oase give the right to import the
product into this oountiy, and the Waterproofing Jilin Com*
pany is interested only in this oountry. Of oourse, vfoen
the foreign artiole applications arc filed, they Bhould be
broadened, as pointed out in previous correspondence in re¬
lation to the United States case.
Yours very truly,
OPS/ ARK .
Assistant to Vice-President
V
July 12,1909.
Ur. Walter A. Daniels,
2115 West Adams Street,
Chicago, Ill,
Deal' Sir:-
lir. Dyer has cone abroad, and will not return
until the middle of September. Before he wont, he signed
the enclosed liccnao agreement, which I send you for your
inspection and oritioism. Any minor correotionB can be made
in it. 1 call your attention particularly to Paragraph 10,
whicA is substantially the same as the corresponding para¬
graph in the agreement drawn up while X was in Chioago.
X believe that you will appreciate that all of the conditions
set forth -in this paragraph will bo necessary if you attempt
to approaoh the other Licensed Manufacturers.
If you will return this copy with your approval,
or critioismB, I will have both copies exeouted, and will
return one for your files. If the agreement is satisfac¬
tory, it might be well for you to execute this oopy and it
will then be neoessary for me to send only the remaining oopy
to you.
?fr. Dyer before he left, objeoted to placing as
'Hr. Walter A. Daniels,
rauoh aB $10,000. in the treasurey at the present time. He hts
corresponded with Hr, BabBon in regard to this coispnny, hut
authorized Ur. Bahson to put -in as muoh more than §3,000.
as the same f*all he needed. 1 infer from Mr. Bahson' s let¬
ter that you are prooeeding with the raamflaoture of sia; coat¬
ing and drying machines. Sinoe tho Edison Company requires
only three of such machines, I presume that you are building
the other three in anticipation of a possible agreement with
another raunuf aoturer . I should he pleased to know what you
find the expense of building those machines will he.
A otrip of film IOC feet long is being sent you under
separate cover today , This film is of the non- inflammable
variety and I should like to have you coat 50 feet of it only,
keeping the other 50 feet in the same room, and returning it
in the same paokage. Our experimenter here has discovered
that apparently the waterproofing both stronthens this non-
inflammable film and preserves it from deterioration, and
we wish to ascertain whether or not this is the oaBa, and
for that reason we are sending thi3 film in such a way that
there would be absolutely no difference in treatment or
handling of the, two sections other than by waterproofing.
, Yours very truly,
GEB/ARK,
Assistant to Vice-President,
Waterproof Filjjf Company
fc of moving picture fUms indefinitely extended.
(Patent applied for.)
2115-21:17 West Adams Street
I jULt3*^S I
\ g. r. si;ua. J
Chicago, July 15th, 1909
Mr. Geo. F. Scull,
o/o Edison Mfg. Co.,
Orange, H. J.
Dear Mr. Scull
The registered package of nonin flammable film reached us
this morning. We coated half of it as you requested. We did not separate
this at all as we ran it all through the machine under the same atmospheric
conditions; we did this so that you would be sure that no change could
he made in it. There is a little white thread tied in the sprocket hole
in the center of the film which will show you where our coating starts.
We tried some noninflammable film coated with our present solution
before the lamp on a projecting machine with a Very sharp focused conden¬
ser; we could readily burn holes through both the coated and uncoated alike
but failed to be able to start a flame. While your experimenter is
trying other experiments have him test this out to find' out the difference
with regard to its inflammability.
We received contract and will take same up tomorrow. In the mean
time we are going ahead with your machines and hope to be down there with \
them the first of the month. We are building five machines but the first
three will be shipped to you.
Kindly let us know the results of this film, meanwhile remaining
Yours very truly.
HATI0HA1 WATERPROOF FILM C0MPA1IY
The National Waterproof Film Company
Telephone Kedzie 694
The life of moving picture films indefinitely extended.
Process prevents rubbing, scratches and wear.
(Patent applied for.)
2115-2117 West Adams Street
RECEIVED
JUL IS 1009
G. F. SCULL,
Chicago, July 17th, 1909.'-
S. F. Scull, Asst, to Vice-Ires.,
Edison Mfg. Co.,
Bear Sir:-
Orange, II. J.
Answering yours of the 12th: Belying upon your Judgment we
shall make no changes in the license agreement. Send the copy and v/e will
sign and return at once.
Eegarding money deposited by Mr. Babson, inasmuch as stock has
been issued and put in escrow for the original amount ($10,000), and as he
has since withdrawn $7,000 of it v/e conclude the best way to treat the
withdrawal is as a loan to him; subsequent sums which he may deposit being
credited against the account .
It is certain that by the plan of leasing machinery we shall
need the original amovint and more.
Until today, whon I drew $250.00 for July rent and pay roll of
the 17th, we have been going upon the money which Thompson and Daniels
turned over with the business—' We still have about $120.00 left in petty
cash.
V/e are building five sets of machinery as v/e found it more econom¬
ical than to get just the three sets for the Edison Manufacturing Company.
The contract price is $1830.00 to v/hich must be added the following items :-
Tables for 5 coaters - $
Counters for ten coaters - ; -
Brushes for 5 coaters -
Sprockets Wheels for five coaters, estimate -
lape for 10 drying machines - -
Heaters for 10 drying machines -
Pads for 7 sizing machines, estimate -
Belting, wire and turn buckles three machines, estimate -
Air generator and tank - -
35.00
250.00
35.00
15.00
276.00
200.00
17.00
35.00
150.00
TOTAL $2843 .00
Explaining 'the counters, heaters and tape for ten machines we
found: it much cheaper than to buy smaller lot3. The excess can be util¬
ized on subsequent machines we shall need.
We have today a bill from Gillson & Gillson as per copieB enclosed
The National Waterproof Film^Company
amounting to $145.00. We have sundry other hills which must he paid
amounting to $105.33, so with no calculation for other expense it is
evident that Mr. Bahson should make another deposit early next month when
machinery is completed.
Assignments of patents to company were drawn hy Mr. Gillson,
signed and sent to Washington today. We will he governed hy your- ad¬
vices to him regarding foreign patents applying at once for one only in
England, France, and Germany. By the way we have received another applica¬
tion for right of use in England.
Belay in starting the manufacture of machines was occasioned
hy changes in them, requiring complete new drawings; these were made hy
a draughtsman who for several weeks increased our pay rolls $35.00. Nov/
that he is gone our expense is $5.00 per week less notwithstanding in¬
creases for President and Vice-President. The former has been av/ay
camping for eleven days hut is now prepared for vigorous work. I want to
close up licenses with at least five of the manufacturers before Mr. Byer
returns. I believe it can he done; shall begin with Mr. Spoor and then
go East leaving other Chicago manufacturers for after consideration.
Before Mr. F. K. Bahson went away he signed a number of blank
checks leaving them with his brother G. who seems to think that he is to
he custodian and that our hills should he taken to him and checks drawn in
his office-This will he very inconvenient for us and unless you have some
very good reason for doing otherwise I wish you would gently hint to him
that we need the check hook where the book-keeping is done at 2115-W. Adams
St. So far n ew company accounts have been kept on slips hut an expert is
engaged to open new hooks tomorrow and I shall put in the day with him.
Taking advantage of the photographers excursion rates Mr. Thompson
will tomorrow night go to Rochester. He hopes to learn more about non-
inflammable film and possibly to arrange for obtaining from the Eastman
Company acetate-cellulose as a new base for waterproofing this kind of
film - Although all projecting machine tests which we have made v/ith our
present coating on non-inflammable film does not appear to add to its
inflammability we believe it wise to be prepared for changing if later
on it shoiild appear desirable. Mr. Thompson will be well introduced by
the Bausch & Bomb people whose relations with the Eastman Company are very
close .
With best wishes, we remain
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM OOI&^AHY
July 24,1909.
V/.A. Daniels, Esq.,
o/o National Waterproof Film Co.,
2115 V/eot Adams Street,
Chicago, Ill.
Dear Sir!-
Your letters of the 17th and 22 insts . together
with Mr. Thompson's letter of the 15th, have been received
by me on my return from out of town.
The non-inflammable film which you coated for ub
recently has also been reoeived, and tested, and so far as
I cah make out from a telephone conversation with our ex¬
perimenter, we find that the waterproofing does not material¬
ly improve the film, so far as its strength iB concerned.
Mr. Thompson refers to testing the film for inflam¬
mability in a projecting machine. I believe that thiB is not
the true test, since at the present time all projecting ma¬
chines are arranged with safety shutters, which absolutely
prevent the light of the lamp being foouBed on the film. The
reoent fire at the Anierioan Pilm Exchange in Chicago shows that
the real danger is in the ignition of the film direotly, and 'I
must say that from the sampans we hove had that the waterproof
Ur. W.A. Dahiels.
ooating does Blightly increase the inflammability. I am glad
to know that Mr. Thompson is going to Rochester and I hope
that he will he able to get on the track of the non-inflamma¬
ble coating.
I under stabd that some oonoerns are dissolving
the non-inflammable films in acetone to form a cement, and it
is possible that such a solution would form a suitable ooat¬
ing.
I enolose a seoond copy of the oontraot. Your
statement of coots and machinery is very interesting. In thiB
oonneotion I wish that you would send me a plan of the ooating
machines, so that 1 oan look after the preparation of a room
here for them. All that 1 would need would be an outline show¬
ing the length, breadth and height. If you have not made a
complete assembly drawing of the machines, a mere statement of
these three dimensions will probably be sufficient. I should
also like to know about what time you expect to be ready to
install them here.
The withdrawal of the money by Mr. Babson was with
the distinct understanding that he would re-deposit it from
time to time as the business requires it, and I think there will
be no difficulty in that respeot. So far as the payment of
bills during the absenoe of Hr. F.K. Babson is oonoerned, I
would prefer not to interfere, beoause he must be returning
from his vacation very shortly, since he left on July 6th,
Mr. V/.A. Daniels.
#3
and he thoroughly understands, 1 think, that his money is
to he deposited to the credit of the company and drawn on
accordingly.
The hill of Messrs. Gillson & Oillson is satisfac¬
tory and it would seem that the patent on the V/eh coating
machine, as well as on the Drying machine, can he p^Em'i^l#'
to issue.
Yours very truly.
GI’S/ARK.
Assistant to Vice-President.
The National Waterproof Film Company
Telephone Kedzie 694
The life of moving picture films indefinitely extended.
Process prevents rubbing, scratches and wear.
(Patent applied for.)
2115-2117 West Adams Street
G. 3?. Scull, Asst, to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, N. U.
Chicago, July 27th, 1909
RECEIVED
JU L 21) 1909
G. r, scull
Dear Sir:-
Se are in receipt of yours of the 24th with stated enclosure
which is duly signed and returned herewith'.
Sorry to hear that our coating adds no strength to the H.-I. film,
for we hear this film lacks considerably in this particular. Prom enclosed
copy of our weekly trade letter you may gather our views as to inflammability
of a waterproof film. It seems to us that the greatest fire danger is in
theatres and that with proper care fires like that of the recent American
Pilm Service could be prevented. However, as we wrote you before we are
looking for improvement, To this end we want to find a source of supply
of acetate cellulose, the base of H.-I. film. Mr. Thompson's trip East
was to learn if the Eastman people would sell to us but through the earnest
advice of his friends in the Bausch & Dorab Company he did not make his wants
known. The writer is inclined to believe that if we get this material
from Eastman it will be only through your influence.
Another chemical which will materially reduce the inflammability
of our present solution is Amylic or any ether derivative of silicic acid.
Silicate, commonly known as"water glass" is easily obtained but this will
not do. The other is not on the market. Could not your chemist make us a
couple of pounds or enough for our experiments and sufficient to learn
its approximate cost in quantities. Y/e should never be able to supply our
v/ants by dissolving old H.-I. films.
Do you ever see the "Kinematograph", a London trade paper? If so
kindly read the second column page 488 of the July 15th number.
Mr. Spoor has been so busy rebuilding his office that I have not
been able to see him, bxit hope to do so tomorrow. I did see Mr. Selig
a few days ago and found him very frank in saying that he can and will water¬
proof regardless of our patents. He claims to hove done this ten years
ago, as an experiment presumably, v/ithout making it a commercial proposition.
He says that he has machinery to do it and that he is ready to fight any
rights given us by Uncle Sam. Notwithstanding all his bluster I think we
are closer to him than before I called. By the way, he apologized for not
keeping the promise given you to call on us, saying "that it was on the
advice of his attorney that he kept away".
The National Waterproof Film Gfompany
2115-2117 West Adams Street
Telephone Kedzle 69 4
Chicago,
S. F. S»--#2.
The floor space required for table with coater and dryer in line
is 21 feet 3 l/2 inches in length and three feet in width. To this should
he added such space as you need for getting around the machine. The height
is 10 feet and 2 inches.
We are going to he delayed on counting machines and heaters so
that instead of being ready early next month it is my belief that it will
be well on towards the end of August before your machinery will be installed.
We. have arranged a system of vouchers in duplicate 30 that
Mr. Babson can retain one copy from which he can keep accurate calculation
of money paid out. The original voucher goes to the creditor for 'his. receipt
Each voucher will correspond in number with the number of check which pays
the account.
Yours very truly,
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
y/ad/ld
P. S. Had a very pleasant interview today with Mr. Spoor and have left
contract with him to look over. Anticipate very little trouble in getting
his signature. He also tells me that Mr. Selig Hill come around all right
in time. Says he is always on the off side; at the start of anything.
The National Waterproof Film Company
2115-2117 West Adams Street
Telephone Kedzie 694
Chicago, July 21st, 1909
Mr. G. F. Scull,
Dear Sir. -
Edison Mfg. Co.,
Orange, II. J.
Replying to yours of the 29th will have to go aown to Batson before
I can return your contract with seal of company . This I will do Monday.
I noticed that the other contract sent you with Mr. Dyer’s signature
did not have the seal of your company, but thought 1 would present it to
you for this purpose on my next visit East.
of
I have seen Mr. Spoor ana he has taken copy^contract to look
over. I expect to see him l’uesday next ana get him to sign. . For this
reason 1 do... not return our contract as Mr. S. might wish to see that the
copy furnished him is just like the one furnished Mr. Dyer. The matter,
however, will have our earliest attention.
Our representative Mr. 3eadell, was in Detroit yesterday where the
Pacific Coast Borax Company were giving one of their shows. He met the
chief operator, Mr. Merollo, ana received the enclosed letter from him. You
will note the date is a little in advance, but this was done purposely so
as to bring up the 1250 times mentioned. It seems to us as a pretty
good letter.
I changed my mind on sending out this week the letter regarding
the non- inflammability of our coating and sent out instead one like the
enclosed.
We are told that we can obtain Amylie Silica from Messrs. Merck
& Company, University Place & 8th St., Hew York City. We wrote them yes¬
terday ordering two (2) pounds. We also find that Acetate Cellulose is
manufactured by a German firm whose address we are now endeavoring to
obtain. In the mean time by our own experiments we have been able to
make an absolutely fire proof coating but of not sufficient clearness for.
our purpose. We believe th&t if we can succeed in clearifying it in some
way we have got the best thing yet.
With best wishes, we remain
Yours very truly,
1IATI0HAI. WATERPROOF FILM COMPAHY
August 4,1909.
VI. A. Daniels, Esq.,
2115 West AdamB Street,
Chicago , 111.
Dear Sir:-
Yours of the 2nd inat. enclosing contract has
■been received.
In view of the statement in yours of the 31st ult.
in regard to tho amylic silica, I have not taken up the
matter with our chemist.
Some time since you suggested the possibility of
using our mailing lint in sending out circulars in regard
to the waterproof film. 1 would, of course, be very glad
to obtain this for you, but 1 believe that it might involve
difficulties in the way of making it apparent that there is
some connection between the two companies, and also, 1 be¬
lieve that the education of the exhibitors will be brought
about an soon as we ore ready to begin waterproofing,
through matter whioh we will insert in a new publication
which the company is getting out, oopy of whioh 1 enolOBe,
and which is devoted to the interests of the Edison Company
exclusively. Naturally in this paper whiolg is being sent
to every exhibitor in the country, waterproof films will
//2 W.A. Daniels.
■bo boomed.
Yours very truly,
OS’S/ARK. Assistant to Vioe-^resident.
lino.
The Najbonal Waterproof Film Company
2115-2117 West Adams Street
Telephone Kedzie 694
Chicago, Aug. 6tli, 1909.
&. F. Soull, Asst, to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Ivlfg. Co.,
Orange, II. J.
Dear Sir:-
' RECEIVED '
AUG 9 1909
^ G. f. scm..
We are in receipt of your favor of the 4th and note that you have
not taken up the matter of Amylic Silica with your chemist. V/e find this a
very difficult chemical to procure and up to this time have been unable to
get it. V/e have one chemist in Chicago that wants to charge us §300.00 for
a formula, besides which he wants us to pay for his experiments so that the
cost is an unknown quantity and we. are not at all inclined to patronize him.
In the mean time we are in correspondence with several manufaettiring chemists
through which we hope to receive results.
I.Ir . Thompson has succeeded in malting a film which is more fireproof
than the new B.-I. filmj it is impossible to ignite it. It has every re¬
quisite for our coating except the one important one of being clear. If
Thompson can find some way of clearing it we will have a very nice coating.
Note what you say aboiit the mailing list of theatres and are willing
to accept your judgment in the matter. We certainly do not wish to increase
our expenses by prematurely eircxilarizing the theatres. We find the postage
on the circular' letters to the exchanges is quite an item.
V/e want to congratulate you on the get-up of the "Kinetogram" . It is
very nicely printed and we like the idea of the colored head lines.
Yours very truly.
?EOOF FILM COMPANY
Pres ^
Aug. 18, 1909.
Mr. V/. A. Daniels,
National Waterproof I’ilm Co,,
3115 W. Adorns St., Chicago, Ill.
Dear Sir:
In rooponse to yours of the ISth inst., I ha.ve request¬
ed the Pihra Department to forward you 200 feet of film on non-
inflammable stock. This will he nent you free of charge.
Yours very truly,
GIS/lOT
Assistant to Vice-President.
Orange, if. J. , August 20, 1909.
■Edison Manufacturing Co,,
Orange, ft, .T,
Gentlemen:
At an informal meeting of the Eastern manufacturers
at the Patents Company's office on t]io 17th inst. attention was
directed to the fact that some manufacturers are arranging to
give away posters free of charge. It was agreed that this
practice would eventually lead to each manufacturertjibeing obliged
to do the same thing, at a conn id or able loss, and that it really
constitutes a reduction in the price of film. 'fhis practice is
also directly contrary to that provision of the manufb. cturer • s
license in which the licensee agrees not to present or donate
other goods or merchandise or prizes to induce the lease of
positive motion picture s (Paragraph 16).
The manufacturers present requested the Patents Company to
snnd out a notice to the manufacturers directing that no posters
or other goods be given away by them either to exhibitors or
exchanges.
Yours very truly,
GES/lW
Secretary,
AVig. 20, 1.903,-
W. A, Daniels, Esq.,
National Waterproof I'ilm Co,,
2115 W. Adams St., Chicago, 111.
Dear Hr. Daniels!
I.tod a conversation with o® chemist here
yesterday In regard to amyl for arayllc silica or silicate. He
has apparently never seen this substanoe, but from Ms reading
he assured me that in his opinion the substance would be- unstable,
breaking down into silica, and, .moreover, he scorned to have grave
doubts as to whether or not it would be non-inflammable . He
suggested that it might be' possible for him to make up some of
the substance, but in view of his statements, it seems that this.:
would be unnecessary, since such a' compound would apparently be
unfit for Jaipur use .
Yours yery truly.
Assistant to Vloe-Dresident,
GHS/lW
\ %
, , fc TELEPHONE K
ija'ioiiAi.'lfciepRoor FkiaiGa.
CAPITAL. $100/000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process ano Machinery Patents Penoino
Aug. 20tll, 1909.
Geo. F. Scull,
Dear Sir:-
Asst. to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.
Orange, H. J.
V/e are in receipt of your favor of the 18th and must cortainly
thank you for sending us the- 200 feet of II. -I. stock free of charge.
Three of the five dryers ordered have been delivered this morning.
The coaters are not yet ready because of delay in getting counting machines.
The dryers will be set up and tested before shipping.
I've made very good progress with Mr. Spoor, but have not yet
succeeded in getting his signature. We coated a reel for him yesterday which
he is to send to his brother in Europe and if it meets with his favor
the idea is to coat all of his European stock in our plant here for the
present. He is also going to have us coat a negative for him and this
will be ready tomorrow or Monday. We believe that the coating will be of
great advantage to a negative, keeping it clean, protecting the high lights,
and because of its shiny surface will muke better prints. At any rate
this negative will prove whether we are right or wrong. If I can finish
with Mr. Spoor by Tuesday I think I shall be in Mew York by the last of the
week.
Yours very truly.
II ATI OH AL WATERPROOF FIUSI OOMPAHY
Pres.
N ational Waterproof Rim Go.
Aug. 23rd, 1909.
i
AUG *s»; v;
I'.'j.
Geo. F. Scull, Asst, to Vice-PreB.
Edison Mfg,.’ Co.,
Orange ,
Dear Sir:- (
T/e are in receipt of your favor of the 20th. and note what you
say about Amylic Silica. We have abandoned trying to get this chemical
which we are told does not exist arid cannot be made. We -are working on other
lines and think we are now on the right track. We want to thank you for
your trouble in the matter, however.
We have just sent in patent application for waterproofing films by
applying a thin coating over the entire surface and then a heavier coat
between the sprocket appertures.
Iwo of the five machines orders have been delivered and are being
set up; the other three are promised this week. We are also promised
three of the counting machines to be here today or Wednesday.
E arn sorry to report that I have not yet succeeded in landing Mr.
Spoor, but we are daily getting closer to it. I think I advised you be- ,
fore that we had coated a reel as a sample for his brother in England and if
it meets with his approval all films which Spoor sells in that country will ,
go over waterproofed. . We also coated a negative for him Saturday which has
not yet been reported on. We believe that a coated negative will make a betteri
print and shall watch the result of this one with considerable interest. |
Mr. Miller of Spoor’s place called' on us this morning and brought a short pieoe|
of new film which he wishes waterproofed for some experiments. Of his own which /,
-v
Hmvonal HtaifiPit®dr tom ©s®
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
G. F. S„~#2.
he wishes to moke. Mr. Miller, and in fact all the people connected with
Spoor's place, are very favorable to our proposition and I hope that this
week will enable us to close a lease.
We have E6 old reels to clean and coat in the house this morning.
Yours veiytruly.
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
toiOML WtaifiPii@©F FhiM Ca
Geo. F. Scull, Asst, to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Mfg. Co.,
received
SEP 7 1909
G. F. SCULL.
We have today ordered from the .Chicago Pneumatic Pool Co. ship¬
ment of one 4x4 belt driven granite compressor having single acting air
cylinder 4 inches in diameter hjr 4 inch stroke of piston, etc. Also one
air receiving tank 5x18.' As it usually takes a week before shipment we
figure that these two articles will reach Orange about the time of the
other machinery to be shipped from Chicago. In this connection we wish
to say that we have been most horribly delayed in this matter but in¬
dications are now that we shall be able to ship by Monday or Tuesday week.
We have ten barrels of solution aging and would ask how many of these you
would suggest shipping to Orange. Each tank contains 50 gallons and one
gallon will do four thousand feet.
The writer will be in Hew York Tuesday of the coming week at the
Knickerbocker Hotel and should be- pleased to meet you at any time that it
will be convenient ( day or night ) .
With best wishes, i
Yours very truly.
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FIIM COMPANY
Pres.
s* Shipment addressed National Waterproof Film Company, c/o Edison Mfg.
Co., EilmpDepartment , Orange, N. J.
National HwtspftooF Plus CSa
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
<&SQD(Sm@v
Geo. F. Scull, Asst, to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Mfg. Co.,
Vpt- mh- Mo9-
Orange, H. J.
Dear sir:-
I returned yesterday, succeeded while in the East in introducing
the waterproofing proposition to. the Vitagraph Company who will tomorrow put into
their regular service a new filra.about 650 feet of which has been waterproofed,
and 350 feet not. ilie waterproofed section was furnished through the Chicago
office of the Vitagraph Company and we are glad to say was run by them
■before we got it. y/e say this because it was scratched to some extent
before we received it* Mr. John Rock promised to advise his father of this
condition.
In. the Vitagraph 'office I met Mr. Clark of the Pittsburg Calcium
tight & Film Company for whom we have waterproofed a few reels. He gave
Mr. Rock a very good report of our work.
I saw Mr Jjong of theKalemCo. twice ana left duplicate contracts
for him to sign upon the return of Mr. Marion ( September 20th). However,
X may have to see th©m "both together on my next trip (in about a month).
Saw Mr. sirghi of S. Hub in in Philadelphia and got two reels from
him, one new and one old. These will be waterproofed and reshipped today
for his examination and experiments.
Saw Mr. Kennedy of the Biograph Company Saturday at 52 Broadway and
was much impressed with his views of the film situation. He seems favorably
inclined to our proposition, but was quite solicitous for Mr. Geo . Kline who
had no manufacturing plant. I told him we could probably arrange to coat
Mr. Kldine’s films in our factory so that it would not cost him much more
than the others. iene is a situation X want to talk with you on when X
see yon again. 'Mr Kleine is due in Hew fork this week and Mr. Kennedy
is to take up the matter with him. left two contracts for Mr. Kennedy
to read and sign. • ^
Mr. Spoor reports favorably on the coated negative, admitting that
the print' from it is clearer cut and shows finer detail than from ordinary
negatives. Part of the print was from ordinary negative and part from
waterproofed, and it is said the difference was very apparent; I have not
seen it.
Mr. Selig is still away but is expected home October 15th. Mr. Berst
National Wuzrproof Run Co.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pcnoino
4200-4202 WEST ADAM S^ST.
Mr. G. P. Si— #8.
of Pathe Praxes is to be in Chicago the latter part of this month ana X
hope to get him sufficiently interested to at least take a ride out to
our plant.
Most, of your machinery is boxed and will be shipped some day this
week. We have two surplus sets of machines at the machine shop which will
probably be completed this week. As it takes so long to build them I am
inclined to order another five sets from the present outlook of probable need.
7lhat is your advice on this?
It may interest you to know that our city man, Mr. Beadell found,. here
‘a place that furnishes N.-I. titles to independents and learned'. that' the stock
came from Eastman, all of which he reported to Mr. John Rook, ‘who I think
intends notifying the M. E. P. Co. in due course.
X believe my trip was opportune and will result in great good, paving
the way for closing up a number of contracts on next call.
I was glad for the few minutes conversation with you, and hope to
see you again before long. Please remember me to Mr. Dyer and say that I
regret not having an opportunity to welcome him back to the "land of the
free"1.
V/ith best wishes, I remain
Yours very truly.
HAIIOHAl WAIERPROOP PIIM COMPANY .
National IfesreepaooF Film to.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process ano machinery Patents Pending
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
©saaem®.
Sept. 18th, 1909.
Gfso. F. Scull, Asst, to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Mfg. Co.,
Orange, II. J.
Dear Slr:-
We are shippihg today three sets of machinery as per enclosed
invoices. Mr. Thompson will he in Orange hy the time this machinery
arrives to superintend the installation and teach your people how to run
it. V/e are also shipping ;in the same car four tanks of- solution.
recei'v ...
SEP 20 ISu-
I1
’ RECIL« W.;D 1
SEP -• . >i
^ G. F, SCULl
J '
t f ‘ **'■ ,
Hoping that the shipment will reach you without mishap, we remain
Yours very truly.
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM CO.
Pres.
Orang.e.,...D.„....J..
.^National Waterproof Film Company
4200-4202 West Adams Street
28
Cases ' comprising 3 sets of machinery, each set
consisting of 1 coating machine, 1 drying machine,
and 1 sizing machine, at $1000.00 per set
$300C
00
Dryers Dos. 10, 11 and 12.
Coaters Dos. IQ, ll and 13
Sizers no numbers.
Shipped via Pennsylvania Railroad.
Marked Dational Waterproof Film Co.,
§
c/o Edison Hfg. Co., Orange, D. J.
‘ CODSISKED"
HLMIONAL WffBRPROOP hUi G(X
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
©&an©fiva©»
Sept. SVth, 1909.
Geo. F . Scully Asst. Bo Vice-Pres.,
Edison Mfg. Co.,
Orange, If. J.
RECEIVED
SEP 29 1909
G. F. SCULL
Dear Sir:-
Some days ago we ordered from the Chicago Pneumatic fool Company
an air compressor and tank to he shipped to us in your care at Orange. T/e
ordered the tool company to prepay the freight, hut they call us up today and
advise us that this matter was overlooked. Therefore, if you will kindly
pay this freight and send ns a hill for it we will he very glad to credit
you with it.
Mr. Thompson left Saturday and is no douht in Orange hy this time.
We calculated that the machinery would all he there early this week and
he is to remain and set it up and get the Edison people started in this
waterproof improvement.
I had an interview with Mr. Berst Saturday and he has promised
before leaving Chicago to come out and see us. He says in his trip around
he has. heard a good deal about our proposition and most of it was favorable.
He was particularly interested in the negative which I told him we had coated
for Mr. Spoor. He was to see Spoor Saturday afternoon and look into the
matter further. He gave me a reel to coat for him which will he delivered
today. He says if this improvement had come up before the non-inflammable
film he would' not have hesitated to adopt it, hut inasmuch as he has to
pay 1/2 £ more for If. I. it will require considerable figuring for him to
add another l/3 j to the product. I suggested that eventually this might
he covered hy increased price to the exchanges, hut he seems to appose
this. Says that he will not consent to increasing price, thinks the exchanges
are paying enough now. However, as with waterproofed films the exchanges
ought to he able to get more out of them Mr. Berst may change his mind.
Have not seen Mr. Spoor since his return from Hew York, hut hope
to do so today.
Yours very truly.
A AsUo <LdJUU A. P. —
HATIOITAI, WATERPROOF FILM COMPAHY
7^X3
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Oct. 6th, 1909.
F. W.. Dove joy, General Mgr.,
Manufacturing hep to.,
Kastman Kodak Co.,.
Hoohestor, H. Y.
I Dear Sir:-
! Answering yours of ootobor 4th, wo shall "be pleased to waterproof
for you without charge any number of feet required for your Investigation
or experiment. We shall bo very glad of your approval of our olalms;
I. our waterproofing is the first praotioal invention designed to
protect the aevolopod pictures of a moving picture film.
II. Drying as hurd aB oelluloid it is loos liable to ooratoh than is
the ordinary unprotected golatine. .
III. If scratches should ooour or dirt ana grease accumulate the film
may be easily washed with soap ana water by reeling through a wet cloth
; hold in the hand.
IV. Holding all tho particle a of the emulsion under cover it prevents
stiolring at the gate of the projecting machine. Per this reason the loop
has loss vibration and consequently tho piotareB on tho scroon are Btoadior.
V. It retards evaporation of tho glycerine in tho emulsion by bottling
it up so to spook and therefore a waterproofed film will not become brash and
brittle as soon as one not so treated.
VI. Drying with a smooth shiny surface it oIIowb more light to penetrate
and therefore Bhows a olearor picture on tho screen.
VI!. Wo believe that moving piotnre negatives coated. wlthnoUr solution
will make clearer prints and assist materially in bringing out detail*
Till. Under a praotioal test in a projecting machine waterproofing does
' not add. to tho inflammability of your non-inflammable film 1,8. Undor on
’exposure to concentrated light rays it will not flame anymore than will; the
same film vdiioh is not ooated. Held in a certain way and subject to uniform
air drafts H.-I. film oan bo made to flame by applying a match to tho bottom
edge. Under this test when waterproofed it seems to bum a trifle mojre
t .peadily0 but so little more as to be scarcely not ioe able ,;, At any rate wo
this is net a practical test as no one is likely to hunt unusual eondi-
^ional WtarcRPRooF Film Co,
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
tiona to turn something they should want to proservo.
„ . Hi J?° °lal? that waterproofing adds to tho strength of an B.-I. film.
tonsiio1atrragthUtlnK 13 V0Iy thin ^ 18 exceedingly tough and has ronarkablo
aTj not to Pa1* after waterproofing, beoanse of
reauoed -frlotion and amoother joints. Ordinary jointa:
baterproofed joints: -- i> . Bote hlaok triangular spot which ropre-
B?£B"a*Sr3?r2°£ ^80atJin? forming a slide fox ahstmotion vs. the abrupt®
stop on unooated film indicated by arrow. .
, Waterproofing will not blister or pool, and if scratched off on—
tirely in spots will not allow water to go between it and tho omulBion.
coating machinery (patents allowed) sproads this solution all
around the sprocket holes without clogging or going through. Our drying
^inn2?rA™ent072 5° allora),lB ontiroly difforont from -the old stylf
reels or drums. It has no tension and thoroforo oannot Btretoh a film
d^yinj? ***' 0118103 in ** WhlCh ar° 80 0ften eno°ar'torc4 from reel
V'fc? v°urt y?;lf 2°^i«to investigation and any suggestions for im¬
provement which you wish to offer will bo thankfully and carefully considered.
Yours very truly,
HAT101IAI WASEKPROOP FILM COKPAUY
Pros.
Mr. Geo. P. Scull-,
Asst, to the Vice President,
^ Edison Mfg. Co.
Orange, H. J.
My dear Mr. Scull:
My trip to Philadelphia resulted in' a contract with
Lubin, substantially the same as the one with the Edison Company.
The principal change being that should Lubin find7 water-proofed
films undesirable he can cancel the contract by written notice
without continuing; use for 90 dayo and without submitting his reasons
therefor to arbitration. His argument was that if he found the pro¬
cess injuring his product he didn't want to be forced to continue
the injury while a Board of Arbitrators considered the matter for
three months. He :said he would not allow our company to go to the
expense proposed if he didn't believe in our process, and that he
would continue its use indefinitely. He is certainly in a hurry to
get started. Another difference between thiB contract and the
Edison one is a clause providing that if the counter gets out of
order or fails to register correctly Bubin's books shall be the
basis for our bills. One other difference is that the solution
shall be f .o.b. Philadelphia instead of Chicago, but thiB amounts
to little as we shall eventually mix it in the east.
I interviewed Mr, Smith of the Vitagraph Company Wed¬
nesday evening and. saw the reel run which we waterproofed for them.
It has been in regular service and has been run about 360 times.
It has not been washed and of course showed considerable rain.
After seeing it on the screen Mr, S. examined it carefully and said
he saw some good points about our proposition which I had overlooked.
He would not say what they were. He was surprised to hear Lubin had
signed for he said there wbb an agreement that none of the manufac¬
turers would sign until after another meeting. He adviBed me to
make no further efforts for contracts until such time when he felt
sure all of- them (the manufacturers) would follow Edison.
I met both Mr. loyejoy and Eastman in Rochester Thurs¬
day. Mr. E. said as far as they had investigated they were favor¬
ably impressed with our improvement. Mr. E. is satisfied to supply
us with solution made from H. I, base provided he can make it suit¬
able. At present it is a slow dryer and unless they can find some
way to hasten this we could not use it. He is not sure either that
it would flow smoothly. However,, he is to put his chemist to work
and see what can be done. When he thinks they have something they
will send us a gallon to try. Mr. Eastman wants nothing said about
this at present, so 'please keep it between yourself and Mr. Dyer,
Mow about finances: We have immediate need of the
#2000 balance Babson owes on the 100 shares of stock issued. He
says. he has not been authorized to pay it. I understood from you
This will make $10,000 he has- paid, in and will clear his account
on our books. Even this amount will not carry us until we get suffi¬
cient returns to Btand alone, especially as we must soon buy more
machinery for bub in. X want to order another five sets because it
is cheaper than to get just three (tubin' s requirements). This
alone means over $3,000* besides solution we must make to supply
him with. If we suooeed in selling our foreign patents for $30,000
or anything near it, we shall then be financially easy for all
time)(. Transactions of this kind, however, are apt to drag even
after agreements have been reached, so that we cannot calculate
upon it in our present emergency. It seems necessary in addition
ip 'fclie $2,000 referred to, that Babson should early next month
subscribe ahd pay for another 50 shares of stock. If you have any
other plans I should be glad to hear ' theik. 'Meanwhile I remain,
P.S. Bell & Howel say new washing machine will be ready to test
Monday or Tuesday,
October 28,1909.
Mr, W. A. Daniels,
4200 West Adams atreet,
Chicago, Ill.
Dear Mr. Daniel3:-
Yours of the 23d inst. has been reoeived
and I have taken it up with Mr. Dyer. Mr. Dyer believeB
that your oonoession to Lubin was a move in the wrong
direction, sinoe it v/ill be possible for Lubin to throw
back on your hands the whole plant which you may install
for him, long before the royalties shall have paid for
it. You will recall that we always figured that the
royalties for three months would praotioally pay for the
installation of the machinery, so that if a manufacturer
gave up the process after that time, we would come out
whole in the matter. Mr, Bjfer suggests that you take
up this matter at onoe with Mr. Lubin und tell him that
your Board of Directors do not apporve of this oonoession
but that they would be willing to do so, provided that he
guarantees the cost of building and installing the ma¬
chinery in oase he should ©irrenderphis license before the
Mr. W. A. Daniels .
ninety days are up. Since Lubin haB done nothing whatever
under this license agreement, it is q^ite correct logully
to have your Board of Directors repudiate the contract.
You will appreciate that having given this concession to
lufcin, it will probably be necessary £o give it fib all
of the other Manufacturers and in case, for any reason,
they in turn would give up the process before the ninety
days are up, it would necessarily result in a very large
loss for the Waterproofing Company.
The other two concessions which you granted to
Lubin, Ur. Dyer thinks are immaterial.
Mr. Dyer has authorised me to write to Babson
to take out the remaining §2,000. in stock, which 1
have attended to today.
Yours very truly.
Assistant to Vice-President.
GFB/ARK.
THE WESTERN UNIOM TELEGRAPH COMPANY,
24,000 OFFICES IN flPM ERICA. "cABLE SERVICE TO ALL THE ”/ORLD.
Orange, N.J,
My dear Mr. Scull:
In reply to your 28th ult., I found yesterday that I
had overlooked advising you of one other change in contract with
I.ubin. I therefore wired you as follows and now confirm:
"Overlooked one other clause Philadelphia contract
reading 'Agreement shall not he construed to prevent
licensee from selling, leasing or exporting film
so coated with said process in any countries of
Europe.' In view of prospective Berst sale should
this he cut out. Answer quick, our Board meetB ten
o'clock tomorrow."
I think this is of more importance than the cancella¬
tion without notice clause, and am glad to have this verified hy
your telegram just received, reading:
"In view of possible Berst contract, think very unwise
to make any quarantees as to sale in Europe of
American water-proof films."
Our Directors met this morning and I enclose you a copy
of their minutes, So that you may he fully satisfied, I am Bend¬
ing the Bubin letter and resolution to Thompson for his signature
-2-
with a request that he submit it to you, and if 0. K. mail it from
Orange to I>ubin in Philadelphia. If not correct, all papers may be
returned to Chicago where changes you may suggest will be made and
then mailed direct. Thompson's signature is really not essential,
and possibly not legal, because of his absence from the meeting.
If you so decide, he can withhold his signature from the resolution
and mail to Bubin just the same. I feel that in over-anxiety to
close with Lttbin, I made an ass of myself, for which I hope Mr.
Dyer will pardon me long before I forgive myself .
Babson says he will give us §2,000': tomorrow, . but I have
an idea it comes hard, and that he is depending upon a^tf.eii^tance
from you. However, this is intuitive only, as I know nothing of
your financial relations. I do know, however, that $2,000 will do
us but very little good and that he should subscribe for another
$5,000 of stock at once.
Acting on the advice of Vitograph Smith, I am anxiously
awaiting the results of next Patent Co. meeting. Oan you say when
it will occur?
Washing Machine test has been put off by Bell and Howell
Yours truly,
until tomorrow.
Mr. Dyer:-
The situation in reference to the National
Waterproofing Company is substantially as follows:
The machinery for the Edison Company has been
fully installed and a complete amount of coating material
to last for several weeks has been provided. Mr. DanielB,
the President of the Company, has been travelling around
considerably the last few monthB interviewing the various
Manufacturers and getting them interested, and succeeded
in signing a contract with Lubin. This contract was not
wholly satisfactory, and the V/aterproof ing Company has
notified them that they are not prepared to go on with it
in its present shape. Lubin will undoubtedly agree to
the modifications, which are not of great importance.
The remaining Manufacturers all speak highly of the propo¬
sition and express their willingness to join in the coat¬
ing of film. In some cases, however, it will be a physical
impossfcility for them to install the necessary machinery
in their plants, and I think there iB a tendency to hold
back until they see the result of the coating by the Edison
Company and its effect on the trade, rathe Freres, repre¬
sented by Mr. Berst, has told Mr. DanielB that he wishes
to take up the proposition, and would recommend it to the
French Company. Mr. Berst also is negotiating for the
-1-
purchase of the foreign patents and has taken to Paris
a written proposition from Mr. Daniels offering to sell
the foreign patents for $30,000, provided Pathe Ereres
in this country sign a license agreement. MT. Beret toll
Mr. Daniels that he would personally reoommend this ar¬
rangement.
The Waterproofing Company has huilt two addi¬
tional sots of machines, besides those installed in the
Edison Company’s plant, in anticipation of additional
licensees. Up to date, the V/aterproofing Company has
spent about $9,000., the largest item in this is some
three thousand dollars for the building of the five Bets
of machines, v/hich does not include the amount expended
by the Company in installing the machinery in the Edison
Company's plant, which will run up to quite an item.
The weekly pay-roll of the Company amounts to about $125.
of which Mr. Daniels and Mr. Thompson each receive $30. ,
the remainder being made up by the Balary of the steno¬
grapher and workmen around the plant. Mr. Daniels' tra¬
velling expenses have also been necessarily heavy. ThiB
amount also includes the attorneys' fees for filing and
prosecuting U.S. and foreign applications, and a consid¬
erable amount of coating material has been prepared and
is on hand in Chicago, undergoing an ageing prooeBB.
Mr. Babson has now advanced $10,000. and hue
written requesting that thiB amount be repaid as soon aB
possible. Mr. BabBon reports that the affairs of the
-2-
I
Company in Chicago are being managed economically, and to
prepare for possible contracts, which will involve the
building of new machinery, it might be advisable to ad¬
vance $5,000. more to the V/aterproof ing Company, as we are
obligated to do under our contract . This latter sum, how¬
ever, is not urgently needed, since they have about $1500.
in the bank which will cover current expenses.
G. g>S.
GI'S/ABK.
Xov. IS, 1909.
Mr. Vi. A. Daniels,
4200 Vie at Adams Street,
Chicago, Ill.
Dear Mr Daniels
Mr. Dyer suggests that you obtain
copies of the patents on the Drier and Coater, just
issued to the 7/aterproof ing Company, and send them to
the Licensed L-unuf soturers with the ot afcoraent that
other and broader applications are ponding on the method
and article. Hr. Dyer believes that this will not only
tend to stir them up, but will show that there really
are some patents back of your proposition.
Yours very truly,
Assistant tp Vice-President.
GPS/ ARK.
NAnoNAL Wmmmmmw nun ©a
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process an o Machinery Patents Pending
'♦200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
©G<i!i©<a©®a
Hov. 15th, 1909.
j RECEIVE:"!1
j NOV 1 7 i'jij'j
. G. F. SCULL.
Dear Sir:- ■
We are in receipt of yours of the 13th and wish to thank you for
your suggestion as to procuring copies of our patents. Same has already
been acted upon.
It may interest you to know that Friday last, we closed a contract
with Mr. Spoor which is in every way identical with the- contract we have
with you. We have been told that Mr. Selig has stated that he would sign
with us if Mr. Spoor did, so we are going to get after him scientifically
in a few days.
i Scull, Asst, to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Mfg. Company,
We have just had a telephono call from Mr. George Eleine who in
his sweetest tones informs us that he ha3 three sets of fight pictures,
each set consisting of 2500 feet which he is about to ship to the Yale Amuse¬
ment Company and that the Yale people want them waterproofed. You lcnow we
have done work for the Yale Company before and this is evidence that they
are pleased with the results.
Saturday we had a call from Mr. Arthur Roussel, whose card states
that he is manager of the Paths Freres factory. Bound Brook, II. J.. He
brought, credentials from Mr. Berst and says that he oame specially to see
our machinery. He returned East Sunday night. He requested a coating
machine to send to Paris so that Mr. Paths could examine it, but we have
none we oould spare for that length of time so compromised by promising
to have some photographs taken which we will send him in a few days.
He expects Mr. Berst to arrive in Hew York Saturday next. He seemed very
well pleased with our machinery, asked a lot of questions about it and saw
us coat a film.
Ho other news at the present time, so we remain
Yours very truly,
RATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
November, 18,1909.
Ur. Thompson:-
1 have been going over the matter of
amending the claims whioh have been rejected by the
Patent Office -with Ur. Dyer, and acme question arose aB
to what:, really takes place when your air blast is ap¬
plied to the film. 1 understand that you use a pressure
of about 60 lbs. Does this blast dry all coating materi¬
al out of the perforation, so that .the perforation iB
identically the some size on the coated and uncoated
films/ You might best this by measurement or by running
a piece of film over, whioh has been stained black, so
that we will be able to see the layer of clear coating
material on the inside of the hole, if any remains there.
If, as a matter of fact, the size of the perforation is
unchanged, .we may be able to distinguish your process
from the wire screen -painting machines cited, because
obviously, in the latter case, the perforations muBt
necessarily be filled up, else the wires would not be
protected. After you have determined this question to
your satisfaction, I would be pleased to talk it over
with you.
G. P. 8.
GPS/ARK.
sSHp ~ ■ ItolONMi WnERPROW niM ©&
Patents for waterproofing machinery (coater ana aryer) have re¬
cently been issued to us as per enclosed copies. Other and broader Patents,
on the improvement of films made washable in water as well as the method
by which we accomplish this, will soon be issued to us.
We are building through Messrs. Bell and Howell of this Oity a small
compact washing and drying machine. Phis we propose selling to Exchanges
at a low price to facilitate keeping films which are waterproofed in clean
and rainless condition. This machine can be worked by hand or by a small
motor (1/12 h.p.). Embodying several new and useful principles thiB machine
will be protected by patents. It will be ready for the market within three
or four weeks.
We now have contracts with film manufacturers which will require
all the waterproofing machinery we can build and install up to February 1st.
This is our apology for urging your immediate and seriouB consideration of
ah arrangement with us, by y/hich as soon as possible your product too may
be waterproofed. This process has so many 'advantages over the old style of
unprotected film that it must soon supersede the old altogether. We be-
lieve the opportunity offered you and your confreres to control this improve¬
ment should be acted upon at once by you.
If there is any part of our proposition you do not understand we
shall be glad to explain ftirther by letter or personal interview through
appointment.
Awaiting your early reply, we remain
YourB very truly.
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FIIM COMPANY
Pres .
November 30/09.
«S6kx-o. fjilltton & Uillaon,
Momwinock Building,
chiouao, m.
Gentlemen
Your a of the 11th inot. with enalooufeu was
received By hr. Bycr, and the references have been carefully
considered. Of course, you will appreciate that the first
objection to the references is that they relate to a non-
analogouo art and would hardly surest the process of the
application.
'fhe greatest difference between the process of
the application and the cited art scores to be that in the
former, the a||V blaBt must be used in such a way as to
prevent not only the ooating material from working through
to the back of the film, but aleo from remaining in the
perforations. In other words, the size of the perforation
before and after coating is exactly the same. On the
other hand, in the wire painting devices, Jj||jne of the paint
muBt remain in the perforations, otherwise there would be
an uncoated eeotion of each wire which would have a tendency
//2 Lie sera. Gillson & Gillaon.
to rust it. In other word3, in the process of the expli¬
cation, cai air blast relatively strong as compared with the
vincoucity of the coating compound, is used, whereas in the
painting machine an air blast relatively light compared
with the visocusity of the paint, ic uoed. It would seem
that the first claim could be distinguished from the prior
art by adding some such phrase as " and removing the coat¬
ing mu|||'ial completely from said perforation" . ifhe second
claim might have added to it "such air blast having suffi¬
cient force to remove the coating material from the said
perforation". It would seen as if the third and fourth
claims are not anticipated. The whole idea in back of
the wire coating machines in to have every part of the wire
covered with paint), wheroao, in the application the idea
in to have only a certain very .restricted portion of the
film coated, and therefore, claim 3, it would Been, iB
sufficiently limited to distinguish. Certainly' claim 4 iB.
In going over the coating process ae now used,
in the Edison Company’s plant, several things have cropped
up which the patent applications might be made to cover.
Tor instance, unless the film is carried through the coat¬
ing machine at a speed sufficiently high, the coating ma¬
terial wells up through the perforation when the film is
over the first roller and would flow over the beck of the '
film. In other words, there is some relation between the
Messrs. Gillson & Gillson.
rate of flow of the coating oompound and the rate at which (
the film must go through the machine, in order to acoom- j
plia^ the desired results. Mr. Thompson also discovered '(
that coating film immediately after it comes from the j
developing haths, obviates to a large decree the wetting
of the surface, and unless the application of Mr. Thompson ;
covering the wetting of the film before applying coating
material is broadened somewhat, it will hswe little value.
It would seem that the claims' of this application
could be so worded as to cover the idea of covering a previ¬
ously dampened film before the water has had an opportunity
to dry out. This would include not only the process as
carried on by Mr. Thompson in his plant in Chicago, but
also as carried on in the pluntB of the manufacturers of film.
Mr. Dyer suggests that the claims at present in
the case be allowed to remain, and that you should attempt
to get them by a discussion with the Examiner pointing out
the great differences An the arts and the end to be accom¬
plished.
He also suggests that you work up some additional
claims embodying the foregoing suggestions and insert them in
the application so that in case the present olaims are reject¬
ed, we will still be able to fall back on the narrower ones.
I return herewith oopies of the patents cited.
Your b very truly,
GPS/ ARK. Assistant to Vice-President.
/iEncBir.'x; ,
Deo. 2. 1909.
Mr. 51. S. Thompson,
c/o National Waterproof Company,
4200 West Adams 8trest,
Chicago, 111.
Dear Mr. Thompson?-
1 regret to say that trouble has
developed on the coating machines and I thought you should
be advised of it as soon as possible, so that you oan give
some thought to it and also guard against the Dame thing
occurring in the new muohlnes whioh you arej buildin©
The; guide rodB for the tapes on the drier, by
reason of the rubbing of the tapes against j them, are
becoming o over ed with a very fine dUBt, evidently worn
from the edge of the tapes. This accumulation beoame so
bad yestsrday that it was necessary to stop coating.
Cleaning the rods, of . oourse, removes the aooumhiation,
but obviously this cannot be done all the time, I and the
dust is so fine and light that it readily shak^B ontov the
wet film. We have removed the guide rods from; the rear,
half of the drier' where the film is wetteBt arid have run
Ur. P. S. ThompBon.
four or five reels over it today, and find that the
tapes run true without these guide-rods. This, of course,
obviates the greatest difficulty, although it does not
eliminate it entirely, and X have given instructions to
remove the guide rode as an experiment, throughout the
machines. If this works satisfactorily, of course, the
difficulty is removed, but I think you should know that
wherever you find it absolutely necessary to provide
a stop guide for a tape it should be in the form of a
roller or a flange moting with the tape, and not a sta¬
tionary member. Ur. Jamison tells me that you assured
him that these guide rods were absolutely neoessary, but
as you hav e added a number of heavily flanged guide rollers
I can readily soe that the original reason for these guide
rods has been removed without your realizing that the
original difficulty has been overcome by thd flanges whidi
you added later. 1
1 shall keep you informed of the1 result of to¬
day1 s experiment and of any other changes which ws may
make. \
Yours very truly,. \
\ i
Assistant to Vice-President.
\ !
CPS/ARK.
NATJQMAi, ^ffiiBPBOOF FILM to.
F. Scull, Asst, to Vice-Fres.,
Edison, lifg. Co.,
Your favor of the 2nd to oiir Mr. Thompson is received this morning
and he wishes me to say in reply that our new machines will he made without
the wire sectors and with the heavily flanged guide rollers which you now
suggest. Y/e believe this must overcome the dust from the edge of the tape
which you speak of.
We, have had a very busy week with quite an order from lyman H. Howe
Sinpe lEtety^aturday our business has amounted to $269.00.
U /yA Ve Wil1 ship next week four tanks of solution to you. Mr. Thomps(
calculates by the time it arrives in Orange you will almost be ready for it.
Even thought you are not in need of it I believe it good judgment to ship it
i possible freight tie up t
< existing in the Northwest.
Yours very truly.
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FIIM COMPANY
P. S./mt. Thompson says you have one tank of thin solution and one or more
empty tanks which you were to return to us. If they have not already been
shipped please see that shipment is made at an early date. When received
will send you credit memorandum.
sw" Ol*/ XI'X-o. SU^CT twi
9th
1909.
Nr. Geo. P. Scull,
Asst, to V.Bres. Edison Mfg. Co.,
Orange , Hew Jersey.
My dear Mr. Scull-5 -
I think: we are making progress with Selig hut nothing 90 far
which is tangible. Klein, however, seems to be falling in line like a
veteran. We have recently water- proofed about 50 reels of new fight
pictures for him. Yesterday he gave us a set of these (unprocessed)
films which had been run many times and were in bad condition. We
cleaned and waterproofed them, as we judge to his satisfaction, for
to-day he 7/rites us to call every Wednesday and Saturday for his Bio-
graph releases of Thursday and Monday. This means only two xeels a
v/eek v/hieh will be used in his rental department. He states, however,
that if good reports follow these two he will have all of his rental
releases waterproofed. This is a right about face forward march move¬
ment on his part both pleasant and surprising.
Mr. Thompson is busy remodeling one of our drying machines,
which should be completed and tested early next week. He will then
make up 10 bbls. of solution (material for which has been ordered).
After this he will put in another week or two in Orange. We want to
find why your films are so much more twisty than any others we get.
The three we get every week from Spoor for T.&.D. of San Francisco
give us no trouble at all. These are very fresh too, in fact so fresh
that we sometimes must wait for them at Spoors until they are dry e-
nough to reel up.
Today's Biograph film for' Klein ran perfectly. Mr. Thompson
thinks the heat in the vault in which your ra,w stock is carried may
Mr. Geo. F, Scull. -2- 12/9/09.
have something to do with it. It should be easy of demonstration by
storing (when received from Eastman) a can or two in a cool place,
Mr. Thompson thinks also that films should be reeled up from the
wooden drums instead of being taken off in skeins when every strand
is turned like a figure eight. He thinks this twist becomes permanent
or at any rate persists to some degree. He would like with your oor-
Oporation to experiment in avoiding this twist.
Mr. Thompson feels sure that his revised drying machine will cause
no dust but fears your drying room and coating room will never be free
from this trouble in present locations. Our washing machine is grow¬
ing into a sure success and I shall issue a general letter Saturday,
regarding it (copy enclosed.) Gilson says there are claims on it,
which can be patented and unless you have other views I have decided
to let him try.
I wish you would let me hear from you regarding further stock sub¬
scriptions by Babson. You have not answered my Oct. 23rd on this sub¬
ject. We are not suffering at present but I want to avoid it in the
future.
We have in bank today $1240.32
Petty cash 42.84
Missl. Accts. receivable 858.23
do. Edison Mfg. Company 1125 , 00
$3266 . 39
* This is for solution sent few days ago and includes
one tank. ($225.00) sent to replace one you are to
return .
We owe only about $300.00 but we have out standing material pur¬
chases which will require about $1000. We shall no doubt within 30
days collect in the Missl. accts. but in the moan time others will be
on our books. In other words we shall always have from $600. to $1000
out standing.
We have not yet placed order for Spoors machinery nor shall we un-
Hr. Seo . F. Soull.
-3-
12/9/09
til the new dryer has been tested.
I wrote Mr. Berst yesterday that I would call on him at any time
he said - just a gentle push you know. His reply may determine how
soon I shall see you - Meanwhile I remain.
WAD/BAP
Yours truly.
[ijWiOiWIL HfcHRPROOF BlM CO.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with 'Water
Process and Mach in cry Patents Pending
Dec. 11th, ,1809 .
S. F. Scull,
Dear Sir:-
Asst. to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Kfg. Oo.,
Orange , H . J .
For the purpose of testing your films on our revised drying
machine we write to ask if it would he possible for you to send us 8 or
10 unooated reels intended for Hr. Hardin. He will coat and deliver
to him in time for regular shipment, but in order to do this they would
have to be shipped to us a day or two earlier than usually shipped to
him. So far as we are conoemed one day earlier would be time, but owing
to our location the express is sometimes slow in delivering so if you
oould arrange for two days advance shipment all possibility of delay
would be overcome.
Yours very truly,
. HAT I01IAL WATERPROOF FIIM COMPANY
Dec. 16, 1909,
MT. F. B. Thompson,
national Waterproof Film Company, ,
4200 West Adams Street,
Chicago, Ill.
Dear Mr.' Thompson: -
1 enclose a small section of a film
ecrftt out by us about Hov ember 23d, which has been, returned
to be replaced. You will note that the waterproofing has
not adhered tothe eraulBion. It is true that o no side
J6f this film has evidently been badly rubbed by a worn
roller, but nevertheless the centre portion Will/also
bliet.er when bent, showing that the waterproofing' does
not adhere. I have no means of knowing what oaused this
and 1 would be pleaaqd^if you will let me itnow what you
surmise is the ^trouble. In any event, I thought you
would bre inter ebtodin sooing this sample'.
Yours very truly.
Assistant to Vioo-Freoident .
■V ,
• y \ \
. , n.
gfs/ark,
Eno. I
Deo. 17, 1909.
Mr. V/. A. Daniels,
National Waterproof Film Company,
4200 West Adams Street,
Chicago, Ill.
Dear Mr. DanieLs:-
Your telegram has heen reoeived.
On inquiry 1 find that our printing plant is working
right up to the shipping point and there is apparently
at the present time, praotioally no leeway in ship¬
ments made to Mr. liordin. The Kinetogrnph Department
also express some concern of the possibility of any
of the films being damaged, which would, of course,
delay their reoeipt by the exchanges. On further and
more careful consideration, and in view of the fore¬
going, it Beems to me inadvisable to have theBe films
shipped to you.
YourB very truly,
CFS/ARK.
Assistant to Vice-President.
National WoiRPRQor Bum Co.
CAPITAL $ IOO.OOO.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
©roaem®*
. Dec. 18th, 1909;
000. F. Scull," Asst.- to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, H. J.
My dear Mr. Scull
Mr. Thompson wishes' me to say in reply to yours of the 16th
that the film complained of was evidently coated without passing through the
sizing. Mr. Thompson has sized one end of the piece you sent and coated it;
it is herewith returned; you can see the difference at once. We expect
it will be difficult to get an admittance from your coating room that this
film was not sized, but the evidenoe goes to show that such was not the case
Yours very truly, I
NATIONAL WATESP300F FILM COMPANY
Pres,
* l
. National Waterproof Bus Co.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable wh Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4300-4802 WEST ADAM S^ST.
<§wa©A©@*
Dec* 27th, 1909.
, F. K. Batson, Treas.,
National Waterproof Film Co.,
Chicago .
Dear Sir :-
The machines we installed in the Edison plant were identical with
the ones used, here and such that we had every reason to Believe Woixld work
satisfactorily. Conditions encountered with Edison films, however, called
for some experimental changes which Mr. Thompson started when in Orange,
and someone has religiously continued since he left. From unofficial
sources we learn that these changes have foroed matters from Bad to worse
-until the coating plant of the Edison Manufacturing Company is in a very
much demoralized condition. Mr. Thompson would have returned to orango Be¬
fore this except that he has himself Been exceedingly Busy trying to improve
machinery here to take care of conditions as found at the Edison plant.
In this line, working night and day, he has overhauled all of our ooaters
and reBuilt one drying machine entirely.
Machine shop cost on this to date has been about §300.00, But he
feels confident that we now have a machine which will take care of a pro¬
duct like the Edison and he will leave tonight for Orange. It is his in¬
tention to rebuild the Edison drying machines to correspond with the new
model here. As evidence that no time has Been lost I can say to you that
we have paid considerable for over time and that parts of this revised,
machinery was delivered to us at midnight Thursday last.
Ho one worked Christmas, But yesterday four of us were Busy all
day compounding solution of which we have a dozen {value $2400.00) tanks
made and paid for with the exception of about $700.00 due February 9th.
The new exchange washing machines cost for experimental work
nearly $300.00, (paid) and as we are building ten of them at $66.00 each,
we shall soon need $660.00 for this purpose. ,
We have orddred three sets of machinery for the Spoor contract at
a price of $570.00 each, hut this does not include some new patterns. Brushes,
tape and heaters. -
Our rent ($100.00) is due next week and we have a pay roll Saturday
,(136.00). Our cash on hand is $228.03 from which Mr. Thompson will take
$50.00 for his today's expenses East.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
This in brief is the situation which I am sure will convince you
that the purchase of five thousand dollars more stock does not mean a
plethoric hank account, hut an actual necessity to our existance.
„ . . .As ^e first of the year means the first six months of our Company
Organization, we are working upon a semi annual inventory and I shall he
pleased to hand you next week a complete statement of our affaire, a list
of assets and liabilities, a balance sheet and such other figures as may
Yours very truly,
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
P. S. My December 9th referred to said, we have in
Bank today - $1240.32
Petty Cash - 42.84
Misc. Accts. Receivable - - — - 868.23
Edison Company Acct. - 1125.00
$3266 .39
At that time we owed - 300.00 whioh has since been tm-ifl
leaving - -$2966 .39
Since then there has been, a credit to Edison Company for returned
solution, $234.00. The balance of their account is still unpaid so for
available cash we must deduct $1125.00, leaving $1841.39.
Our Misc.1 Accts. Receivable today are - ;a435 .14 "
This must also be deducted , leaving “$1406.25
Since the: 9th we have had 3 pay rolls amounting 408.00
Which we also deduct, leaving - 998.25
We have cash on hand of $228.03, showing that we have spent since
the 9th an additional $770.22. Without itemizing, our books will show that
we have spent this for. chemioals, machinery and general expense, and to con¬
tinue doing business we are in immediate need of more capital.
Dear Mr. Scull : -
The Directors of the National Waterproof Film
Company hart a meeting yesterday afternoon, and I en¬
close herewith inventory, financial statment, and re¬
port of the President.
The inventory and financial statment were accept
ed, but the report of the President was laid on the
table, for the reason that we could not see any good
reason for opening a New York branch. The principle
argument against this was that the plant now in oper- '
ation here is being run at a big loss, and we could
not see on what basis we would be justified in opening
a New York Waterproofing establishment.
Of course, this matter is entirely up to you, and-
if you approve of i t we will have another Directors’
meeting just as soon as Mr. Daniels returns from the
East.
X do not entirely approve of the inventory, for T
think a great many of the items are high, and in case
of solution I believe it is entirely wrong. The price
figured is the retail selling price, and not the cost
price; thus the inventory shows a soiling profit before
the sale has been made. This would reduce the inven¬
tory eleven or twelve hundred dollars. However, with
an accurate understanding of the matter I cannot see
that there would be any harm in accepting the inventory
just as he has made it.
Regarding the financial statment, there has been
received by the company a check from the Edison
Manufacturing Company, so that after paying sev¬
eral bills, v;e still have a ba lance on hand of
$403.94. This still leaves other ..bills , for which
money will be needed between now and the first
of the month. One is for Bell & Howell amounting
to $660.00, which is for ten washing machines,
that I presume wore ordered with your permission.
Regarding the Spoor contract, I have not
seen this contract, hut presume you have. Mr. Dan
iels informs me that it is an exact duplicate of
our contract with the Edison Manufacturing Company
The loss to date consists of the salary account,
rent account,, travelling expenses, and patent ex¬
penses. The profit in coating films would just
about cover the incidental expenses.
JJi^rSlIKRIDAN Road
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! ClZa
XX.
Jan. 19, 1910,
Mr. V/. A. Daniels,
National waterproof Film Company,
4200 V/eot Adams street,
Chicago, Ill.
My dear Mr. Danielsi-
/ Youre of the 17th inBt. with enclo¬
sure is at hand. I hare shown Mr. Dyer the letter, as
requested :by you, and return the same herewith. In this
connection, you may he interested to know that Mr. Etleine
stated th(e other day that he had . some unwaterproofed in-
flij raablq fight pictures go to pieces Just1 the same as
the waterproofed piotureB, and that : iiq his opinion the
waterproofing did not af f eot the result. On the other
hand, I think there was some lingering 'question in his
mind j' whejther the waterproof ing did any .^pod or not. He
had a. letter from Mr. Flintom in whioh the latter stated
th^. the Edison waterproof film had not been in ubc a
sufficient length of time for hini to determine whether or
they are advantageous,. Hr y Marvin W^t he Biograph'
Company was present and renuujke^ (that i t appeared that the.
A^terproofing had some advantages, bu,t hardijy sufficient
ftintoifOEiiltheit:
\ .. i ■
#2 Hr. V. A. Datoiels.
TheBe statements maj^'gfve you an inkling as
to what the other Manufacturers have in mind.
Yours very truly, /
GPS/ARK. Aesiatant to Vice-President.
Eno.
January 27, 1910.
Mr. G-. 3?. Scull,
Assistant to the President,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, IT. J.
Dear Sir:
A special invitation is extended to you, to call
at Room 149, Hotel imperial, and see a washing machine which
washes, dries and polishes a reel of waterproofed film in
from eight to ten minutes. The machine will he here the
balance of the week.
This invitation also includes Mr. Dyer, if he is
in lTew York.
Yours truly,
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM 00.
• *
National Waterproof Film Co.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process ano Machinery Patents Pending
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS^ST.
©5Q(l©£Va@»
Feb. 4th, 1910.
Mr. George F. Soull, Asst, to Vioe-Pres.,
Edison Mfg. Company,
Orange , H . J .
Dear Sir:-
I was unable to see Mr. Berst again before leaving Hew York, but
from the talk I had with him previous to telephoning you I feel confident
that we will connect with him. The Vitagraph Company I feel will be next, as
they intend to put up a Tie'll building in which they have planned a coating
I room.
Had a very pleasant visit with Mr. Singhi in Philadelphia; was in¬
vited out to his house and to see the new factory. In speaking of the
cancelled contract he said It was really the best thing fi)r both of us because
, in their present quarters they really did not have a place to put it, but
as soon as the new factory was finished they would adopt the coating proposi-
j tion. He was very much pleased with the washing machine for cleaning water-
I ■ proofed films and wo are going to send one to his exchange. He congratulated
! me several times on the talk X gave the convention and said that this was
I the firBt time in his experience where any outsider had such a chance. Of
j course all this made me feel good.
j We have made some very good friendB this trip with such people as
j Howard, of Boston, Miles of Hew York, iieber of Indianapolis and many otherB.
| X want to caution you not to allow your stock of solution to get
j down too low and to say that I should be pleased to receive an order for
j five or six tanks from you by return mail.
| Yours very truly,
HATIOHAIi WATERPHOOF FILM COMPAEY
Proa<
z ■
National Waterproof Rim Co.
CAPITAL $ 100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Skhksa®®,
Feb. 7th, 1910.
f^a
La
■J;
George F. Scull, Asst. To Vice-Pres.,
Edison Mfg. Company,
Orange, N. J.
Dear Sir:-
We expect the Spoor machinery will be ready to deliver on the
15th, and allowing for contingencies cannot bo more than a few days later. This-
will call for a payment of $1710.00. In addition to this we shall have to
supply heaters and air condenser; this will use up from §150.00 to §200.00
more. I have today contracted with Bell and Ilowell for 20 more washing
machines at $52.00 each. These are promised in from three to four weeks.
I called at Spoor's plant yesterday and met his manager, Mr. Hamilton.
JtMs
I find hira^extremely intelligent and -&■ well bred gentleman. He is very much
in favor of waterproofing, but up to this time Spoor has done nothing towards
supplying a place in which to put our machinery. He promised to take the
.matter up upon his return from Hew York where he went yesterday in company
with Messrs. Kleine and Selig. ^
We are getting many inquiries for washing machines and could place -I-
.ten more than we have on hand at once. I sold one to Mr. Spoor yesterday. £
I am still entusiastic over the progress made in the last trip, to
Hew York. The business looks surer to me now than ever before, but we cer-
a tainly need capital. If you can bring any influence to bear on Friend
I shall be under many obligations.
■ i. Yours very truly,
' NATIONAL WATEBPBOOF FILM COMPANY
W. A. Daniels, . ' • _
• 4200 W: Adams St;, Chicago ,-111. ;
Think, you acting unfairly towards Thompson. .Only -
stopped at my request and believe have already solved difficulty
and enormously improved produot. Expect- to start Monday sure, - :
-^possi-^iy tomorrow. If you wish, willoarry Thompson’s expense ‘
• and, salary, while -here, "charging against royalty. / '
" ^ Frank E. Dyor. ' , , ' ^ . .
( Chg. l/tfg. Co. ) •• •
r READ THE NOTICE AND AGREEMENT ON BACK. ,
Prank I. Dyer, Vioe-Pres.
Edison Mfg
Nahohal Waterproof hue Co.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with W/vter
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4300-4202 WEST ADAMS ST. $ * if
. ©waeA©©!"'
Pet . 23rd , 1915*F I ' "
> rl
4^
' >
Orange, II. J. j\ f Jsljv-
FT ,
My dear Mr, Dyer:-
I am in receipt of your telegram of th&\22nd regarding
Thompson. I am sure I do not wish to he unfair to anyone. Thompson's
wife draws his salary here every week and we send him $25.00 more. $230.00
per month is quite a drain on a business taking in only about $300.00 a
month.
Thompson has never invested a dollar in the business so the least
he should do is to put in some economy. I believe he has an idea that his
associates are Rookefellows and Morgans who will some day make his interest
worth a lot of money no matter what he mey spend at this time. His expen-
ses from Orange to Hew York have averaged $5.17 per week for the past
three weeks. I cannot continue O.K.'ing thingB like this without objecting.
I think under the circumstances of his having to remain so long in Orange
that he should have one half his salary sent East -and relieve the Company
of all his living expenses. I also suggested that as soon as your plant
was coating satisfactorily and having no further experiments to make that
v/e cut out both his salary and mine tmtil the business was further advanced.
Under such an arrangement he could not live so I’ further advised his finding
outside occupation for a time.
I want to thank you for your offer to advance him money, but I cannot
see that the situation would be relieved by his drawing from your Company
that which v/e should eventually have to pay. I therefore, prefer to go
along as at present.
Mr. Spoor has done nothing towards providing a pluce for his coating
machinery, and is acting much like a crawfish. I have not allowed him
to say that he would not put in the machinery, and I have delayed making
a formal demand until v/e are absolutely ready to deliver ( about .March 1st).
It seems that at the last Hew York meeting of the Patents- Company, S. asked
several manufacturers if they intended" to waterproof, and from their nega¬
tive answers concludes that no advance in the price of film to cover water¬
proofing is possible. He thinks our price too high under such a prospect.
I asked him why he didn't get them all together and secure a wholesale
rate from me. He thought this a good idea and said "He would work along
this line", and so far as I know here the matter has rested since the 12th.
Mr. Singhi told me in Philadelphia that as soon as their 'new factory
was completed he would contract with us and in plain English stated that he
CAPITAL $ 100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
SinaeAS®,
aid not think our price exorbitant being only about 3J? on the net selling
price. I have been thinking of suggesting to him the advisability of
having all his We stern releases coated by us at once, This would embrace
a large territory for the Enterprise Optical Company (hub in's Chicago
agents) tell us that their territory extends from Buffalo West. I ao
not believe the trade these people give Lubin is satisfactory. It seems 1
to me that most of their Enterprise rests in their title, or is devoted to the
sale of their machinery. •
We have almost concluded an arrangement with the Theatre Film
Supply Exchange in this City to have all of their releases (20) waterproofed
and properly taken care of under our supervision. They are to put- in
sufficient washing machines to take care of their business and allow us to
inspect the work whenever we choose . I am very anxious to see the result
of such an experiment for 90 days; I believe it will add many customers,
after which it will be easy for them to get some advanced prices because
of the condition of films served. Mr. Aiken is quite enthusiastic over
the proposition which he proposes to extensively advertise if he goes into it.
I have cut our price to #3.50 per reel to give the matter a thorough test
for 90 days.
Yire have been quite busy since the 15th with prospects of a continu¬
ation for the balance of the month.
Yours very truly.
HAT ION AX WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
Pres.
%
Feb. 26, 1910.
Hr. V/, A. Daniels,
4200 West Adams Street,
Chicago, Ill.
dear Mr, Daniels
I have seen your letter of the
23d inst. to Mr. Ityer i n regard to the waterproofing
situation generally, and particularly as to Kr. Thompson.
It seems tcL iae that your letter is based possibly on a
misapprehension of conditions here at this plant, and
therefore I am taking it on myself to write thi s so that
you may be informed as to the way matters hai| been Were,
As you know, we have received raary complaints
that the waterproofing oaused peeling. V?e were at first
inclined to believe that this was due to the fact that,
as you know, some of the Eastman stock was peeling anyhow,
and of course, th^fater proofing being the newest proposi¬
tion, it was blamed for this peeling. After a great many
experiments and tests here, however, all of ub are now
oonvinoed that the waterproofing applied to N.I. etodk
does oause peeling, even of emulsion which would otherwise
be non-peeling. Our Chemist here has worked out a theory
#2 1ST. VI. A. Daniels.
which seems to conform to the oonditions sb we find them,
and this theory is briefly, as I understand it, that the
waterproofing dries at a different rate from the emulsion,
and has a tendency to life it on that aooount. You must
appreciate the fact that under these circumstances this
Company oould not go on waterproofing its films. Such
a course would result disastrously both to our films and
to the whole waterproofing proposition, in both of which
we are interested as much aB you are. Our Chemist haB
found, apparently, a solution of the difficulty, and judg¬
ing by test pieces which we have run on the machines, is
producing a product which absolutely does not peel, and
moreover is very helpful to what would otherwise be
brittle Eastman stock, and everybody, including Thompson,
is working now to make changes which will permit this
new method to be used commercially. If it iB found that
we have solved our difficulties, the waterproofing proposi¬
tion will be immensely strengthened with the other Manufac¬
turer b, because in addition to the advantages which we
i»ew with waterproofing, we will be able to point out that
it will relieve them of many of their difficulties in regard
to the Eastman stock.
It does not seem to me that your proposition, vshioh
I gather from letters which you have written to Mr. Thomp¬
son and which he has shown me, that the Waterproofing Com¬
pany has nothing to do with the poor quality of Eastman
#3
Ur. W.A. Daniels.
stock and that you should not attempt to overcome ary
difficulties with it, is, at least, open to question.
Granted that the Eastman stock 1b defective, it ia a
pretty hard thing to induce a manufacturer to go on us¬
ing a prooess which accentuates those difficulties, and
on the other hand, it would he an extremely easy proposi¬
tion to induoe him to use a prooess which diminishes the
difficulties. I think you should also realize that this
Company has a considerable amount of money at Btake in
the waterproofing proposition, and in everything that has
been done here that fact has been taken into consideration.
In other words, this Company is working toward the success
of the waterproofing proposition along lines which we j^s' ere .
directly in touch with the prooess as to its working out
here, believe to be the. right ones. It Beems to me person¬
ally that everything points now to success, and it is ohjr
going to be a matter of possibly a few weeks when all of
the troubles will be solved. Consequently, it seems very
unfortunate at this time to. raise any unnecessary questions
such as the relations of Thompson to the Waterproofing
Company, . If the process is not a suooess with' Mil; film,
the mere cutting down of salariee of yourself and Thompson
will not help the proposition.
I gather from one paragraph in your letter j above
referred to, that you have in mind making a formal demand
on Hr; Spoor to take hie machines. 1 hope that you will
Mr. V7. A. Daniels .
©
m
do nothing which will in any way tend to irritate Mr.
Spoor or to give him the impression that you are going to
jam these machines into his plant| willynilly. Vie might
as well conceive between ourselves that there have been
many difficulties which have been laid at the door of
waterproofed films, and some of them probably justly so,
and 1 think that you will not strengthen your position
with the other Manufacturers if you take the pcation
that you are going to enforce your contracts in spite
of the fact that Spoor may have come to the oonclUBion
that the waterproofing is not a good thing. In other
words, it seem 8 to me that under all the circumstanoeB ,
diplomacy is the thing to be used, and moreover, I certain¬
ly think that nothing should be done until we have com¬
pleted our experiments and arrangements here, which as I
said before, v/ill probably be in a very few weeks.
All of the above is written on my personal
responsibility and without oonsulktion with Mr. Dyer and
merely express my personal vie*s in the hope that a plain
statement from me, who, I think you will realise, has more
than a friendly interest in your proposition, would tend
to alloy the apparent mental stress under which you are
now .laboring.
Yours very truly.
GI'S/ARK,
National WsrenpRoor Him Co.
' CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made 'Washable with Water
Process ano Machinery Patents Pending
4300-4202 WEST ADAMS' ST.
©SQIl©**®®,
Feb. 28th, 1910.
Geo. F. Soull, Aast. to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, H. J.
My dear Mr. Scull
Much obliged for your long letter of the 26th. Your ar¬
guments are so convincing that I must agree with you on the general propo¬
sition, but so far as Thompson’s expenses are concerned I am Btill of
my former opinion. He has no conception of the value' of money, never yet
having made a trip for this Company where his expense '.accounts would bal¬
ance the money drawn. On present trip there is over $60.00 on our boots
charged to him which he can’t account for or at least . hasn’t seen fit to
do so up tovthis date. ’I realize that this is a small matter, hut never¬
theless must be watched by someone and logically I am the one. 1 still
think he should voluntarily cut off his expense account while he is in
Orange on such a long stay.
I saw Mr. Spoor several hours Saturday. I have not antagonized
him by any formal demand. Have an appointment with him at his factory day
after tomorrow morning. The only thing that iB bothering him is the apathy
of the other manufacturers which makes him feel that it will be impossible
to get advance prices to oover the waterproofing. He claimB to have little
or no trouble himself with peeling, but has met the trouble with the product
of other manufacturers in his own exchange. He had a Titagraph film lyiig
on his desk Saturday which was to, be returned because of peeling emulsion. >
He has Just discovered that many of his Pathe filmB which he thought were
non-inflammable are on the old style of stock.
Our friend Selig is doing his best to prevent the Theatre Film !
Supply from making an arrangement with us to waterproof all of their Btook.
He tells them that it will make their films inflammable and useless , if
the new proposed City Ordinance should be inacted. Of course this state- ■
ment' about the inflammability of a waterproofed film is easily refuted
by test, but I understand that Selig has loaned the Theatre Film Supply f
ten thousand dollars which of course will have some weight in Aiken’s decision. >
Also find that Friend Selig’ s master mechanic and some other, employee ]
recently called on our rotary bruBh maker and wanted to find out about the j
brushes such as they had made for ub. They got very little information or
encouragement. Do you suppose this fellow is already starting in to infringe • j
our patents? . j
io“* :
Hmtional Mwirproof Bui Co.
. CAPjTAL $ IOO.OOO.
Moving Picture Films made Washable wth Water
Process and Machinery Patents Penoing
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS' ST.
March 7th, 1910,
Seo. F. Scull, Asst. to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Mfg^- Co.,
Orange, N. J.
Dear Mr. Scull
1 am in receipt of your 6th and the two points which you picked
out in the proposed weekly letter are the very ones that I was anxious about
I agree with you fully as to what a sensitive man like "Friend Selig" might
think of it (I caraevery near saying sensible man; I. am glad I did not).
I am pleased to get a conservative opinion regarding the new sizing for I
was led to believe from Thompson's letters that peeling would hereafter be
•an absolute impossibility. Knowing Thompson’s optomism as I did I of course
put some salt onhiB statements, but still I think they left me with an
exaggerated opinion'.
( fat*- rJ*aA*r*J
I took our measuring machine into Selig’ slant week and used the
occasion to try and talk to him, bitt "Brother Rub" who took my card in
said "That Mr. Selig was. too busy all last week but if I would come in
next week( this ) he wouldjtalk with me", so of course i; am going in.
, There can be no question about the peeling of emulsion outside
of your establishment. I understand through' Spoor that Selig returned
150,000 feet to Eastman.' Saw a film in the Vitagraph. office a few days
ago,:. the last , section of "The life of Moses"- that was peeled so that
it would not be used.
We have today received a letter from the Eastman Kodak Company
of which the enclosed is a copy; also enclose copy of my reply.
We received a check today from lyman H. Hdwe ,for $809. $0, but for
.all this I want to get the account of the Edison people! straightened up at
the earliest opportunity. There must be quite a little sunr which we owe
them for machine work which I understand is now completed and the sooner
the matter is adjusted the better it will be . all around . '
> Yours very truly, '
• ; NAT I ON AD WATERPROOF FIIM COMPANY
Ohloago, Maroh IV, 1910»
Mr, George F. Scull,
Edison Mfg. Co.,
Orange, N. J,
Bear Mr. Scull
I arrived home in fair shape and on Monday went
into session with Mr. Baniels. He was pretty wild all day
and could not talk very rational. nothing hut his petty
grevienoes against me. We thrashed those out pretty thorough¬
ly. He demanded formula for the Edison sizing. 1 414 not
give it to him partly on aooount of the way he demanded it
and heoause I had promised Mr'. Byer not to divulge it to
anyone until Mr. Byer had given it to Mr, Spoor. 1 do
not think Mr. Byer meant for me to keep it from Mr. Baniels
hut he haB no use for it and could not uBe it if he had it.
He has made a great stew about this'. I told him about my
promise to Mr. Byer, hut no use, he is blind to reason". I
got an inkling today of some of the reasons for his actions
towards me. Someone had told -him I was out to do him and
the stenographer had told him I had got a Bollar from her
and never put -In any record for it. She added I had taken
my wife to a moving picture show. These of oourse are so
plainly stamped a lie that I oare nothing for them hut the
smile and look that went with them showed something beyond';
4
-2-
At least that is the way it looked to me. I would like
to have these books looked over. Mr. Daniels got yotir
letter yesterday morning. It instantly went into Mb inside
pooket, olouds beean to gather and the storm finally broke
with renewed violenoe. He does not want to abandon this
factory and as far as I oan see the only thing he wants
to abandon is me. He told me I would get no salary this
week as they have no money in the bank. If he oould pull
this off this way it would very seriously cripple me and he
knows I oould not last long without an income. I know
very well I oould get what is ooming to me eventually but I
would like to know if it were possible for me to draw my
salary from Orange, H. J», or if I oould get a position with
the Edison Company. I feel as though I oould make a good
success running a camera or in any other oapaoity that you
might have. This is something I would like to know for the
future. I am standing pat and will stick to the last gun
for a square and honest deal. Mr. D. seems to tMnk he has
the whip hand and oan oarry things in this business just about
as he wants to^. What he has to gain by Ms action I cannot
see for hevhas everything to lojBe.
Kindly let me hear from you . Address me to
331 north Park Ave*, Austin, Ill".
YourB truly, /<*!/[/ j / rZ#? &
<f
Mar oh IB, 1910.
Mr. W. A. Daniels,
National Waterproof Film Company,
4200 V/ost Adams Otreet,
Chicago, 111.
VSy dear Mr. Daniels
Yours of the 10th inst. has been received
by me. 1 am sure* that 1 cannot give you what you may deem an
acceptable answer to queries as regards the irregularity in
the coating of reels, unless the suggestion which Mr . Thomp¬
son gave Jiou that our work of printing is so far behind, is
sufficient. This reason undoubtedly is true, but it iB also
true that it is not the sole reason for the failure to ooat.
As a matter of fact, one of the exchanges , (the Calumet) I am
•informed, does not wish to have its filraB waterproofed. In
addition, the system of coating has not, to ny mind, been
thoroughly broken in in this factory bo as to be made a regu¬
lar part of thework.- There has .been' so muoh changing and
experimentation that thework iB carried on very slowly and
requires what I consider an unoonBoi|nable amount of- labor
in the ooating room. As time passes and the small '.details,
in the system are worked out, it is p|ssible that the number
Mr. W. A. Daniels,
#2
of employees oan be out down and the work speeded, but since
the product to which the coating is applied is so valuable
and any aooident to it during the prooesB of coating involves
so much trouble and delay, in addition to the expense, we
cannot afford to go at the thing in a Blap-dash fashion. I
think that 1 ought to call your attention again to something
I did in a former letter, and that is that this company is
as intensely • interested in the success of the proposition as
you are. The installation of the whole system here has been
a source of considerable worriment to both Hr. Dyer and myself
as has been your non-success in inducing other Manufacturers
to take up watprpVoofing. 1 fully appreciate that there are
reasonable explanations for All of these things. I make these
statements, because your letter appears to me to be rather
fault-finding, and in view of the condition of affairs, it
seems to me that neither party can afford to take any such
attitude in regard to the other.
Your bill in regard to royalties wbb received and
I have started it on itB journey through the Accounting De¬
partment. The amount will probably be offset for work done
for your Company here. I have taken the liberty to add to
the ball enough language to explain. the item whi ch it really
oovers.
Yours very truly,
GFS/ABK. Assistant to, Vice-President.
March 28, 1910
Mr. W. A. SanielB,
o/o Hotel Knickerbocker ,
Hew York, H.Y.
My dear Mr. Daniels
Your letter to Mr. Dyer appears to
me to be satisfactory.
1 am returning by the messenger the Btrip of film
which you ask for. Inquiry today reveals the fnot that
waterproofing is again being held up more or less here be¬
cause of the "sweating", of whioh I spoke yesterday. The
factory is still convinoed that this is due to’ meoh enioal
oauses in the application of the siaing, whioh will be
overoome as soon as the sizing machine is re-arranged some¬
what to apply the sizing uniformly and without excess. You
will note from the sample herewith that this sweating does
not ooour always.
Your s very truly,
GFS/ARK. Assistant to Vioe-Presidentt
NAH IOMAL PiW G&
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
©m<Sfly©@»
Maroh 26th, 1910.
George F. Scull, Asst, to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, N. J.
My clear Mr. Scull:-
Arrivea home this morning. Mr. Thompson is perfecting
plans by which he will he in Orange on the 4th prox. .
Found I was too late to get the Inbin Agency os he just completed
an arrangement, turning the agency over to a Mr. Fulton. Fulton was for¬
merly employed hy Roebuck and is in reality tho same man that has sold the
luhin films which have been sold. He is a little hunch hack ana I understand
not popular with exchanges. Mr. Singhi told me that unddr the circumstances
he would have to 'give Fulton a chance hut if he fell down he would be very
elad to take the matter up with me. I find the commission paid is 1/2 ji per
foot, hut even at this I believe it would he a good plan to take the agency
and waterproof all the releases we sola. Mr. Singhi was very much interested
in the idea. Mr. luhin said that he would he ready to negotiate for water¬
proofing all of his films when his new plant was finished. Owing to the
recent strikes this will he delayed until September and possibly longer.
Mr. Berst is in the city hut I have not seen him.
Yours very truly.
HAT10HA1 WATERPROOF FIRM COMPANY
National Waierpkoof nw Co.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with AVater
Process and Machinery Patents Penoing
4200-4202 WEST A DAMS ST.
\3-o -
yw' P^^n.
/2vb-" C-C P'3 J Csf^O
[/J J GL*c/-0
(t>) tr^^c^i^o ^ fiJLdPPLi. <U-Ct^ , GyulCZLt Z
hJ^. kS EP/ /^v'' 0£_—
^E^ ^UaJ
March 30, 1910.
Mr. ¥/. A. Daniels,
o/o National Waterproof Film Co.,
4200 West Adams Street,
Chioago, 111,
Dear Mr. Daniels 2-
Mr. Dyer has reoeuved today your tele¬
gram in answer to his of this morning asking for the compo¬
sition of the waterproofing compound. As indioated in the
telegram, we are still toeing bothered toy the white spotB
as shown on the sample enclosed. Dr. Xessl after proving
that his sizing solution was not the cause, which he did
toy waterproofing a film without any Bizing whatever, guessed
. that possitoly some of £'he ohomicalB of your solution were
toeing precipitated and for this reason Mr. Dyer asked for the
formula, so that Dr. Tessle^vould not toe working in the dark.
Bince wiring this morning, however, we found that the solution
was toadly clouded toy a heavy white precipitate. A new tank
of solution was then opened and I have just seen a film coat¬
ed with it, which was absolutely perfect. Of course, we hove
had so rnaoy upB and downs in this matter that it is unsafe to
predict , tout it seems now that one of two things is the trou-
9
k
VI. A. Daniels.
ble, first, either the solution in some of the tankB which
you are sending us is not properly made, or second, that the
solution is liable to ohange or de-compoB<l>tion after the
tanks are opened and we begin using the solution. Ur. Jamison
is going right ahead now coating with the solution from thiB
new tank, and we will, of oourse, watch it very closely and
if any trouble develops from using the solution from this new
tank, it willshow pretty conclusively that the first oause
above is the souroe of our trouble. Samples from the tank
which was being used up to today and the tank which has just
been opened, oho w a very marked difference in color and in the
clouded cnndition of the solution, the solution of the old
tank being yellow and cloudy, while that of the new tank iB
perfectly clear and almost white.
It is very unfortunate that we had not corrected
this trouble before Mr. Spoor came on. I talked with him
over the wire yesterday and did not dare mention the matter
of waterproofing to him in view of this situation, and he,
in turn, said nothing whatever about it. Mr. Spoor iB re¬
turning to Chicago this afternoon so that it is impossible to
get him out here in view of the changed conditions, and hove
Mr. Dyer talk with him.
1 have yours of the 28th inBt. and will see that
our oheok is sent immediately if it haB not already gone.
I
#3 ' Ux W. A. Daniels.
So far as any new oontraot is oonoerned, I think
you should arrange it so that the contract will he in foroe
a year at least before the licensee lias a right to withdraw.
The 20th of March, therefore, is not the critical date so
long as you see to it that the year is properly advanced .
That is to say, any oontraot made between now and next March
should give the right of renewal on March 20th, 1912.
Yours very truly.
GFS/ARK.
Assistant to Vice-President.
N ATIOMAL WVERPROOP FJLMCO.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
March 30th, 1910.
Mr. Frank 1. Dyer,
Orange, M. J.
Dear Sir:-
I am in receipt of your telegram this day, reading "Films still
spotting even when no sizing used. Wire formula waterproof compound for
use. Chemist getting at bottom of trouble." This information is simply
unaccountable. V/e have coated hundreds of reels of both II. I. and inflamma¬
ble without a sign of this spotting. I wired. you the formula as requested.
Also sent you a second telegram asking i'f you will please hasten
payment of our account for the reason that we must have money by Saturday.
Mr. Thompson is planning to get away then and his finances are in such shape
that the Waterproof Company will have to give him $50.00 to go with.
Mr. Thompson was through the Spoor plant this week and is very much
impressed with the simple and efficient condition of it. One boy running
all the perforating machines; three continuous printers doing all the work;
titles Joined to negatives making up 250 foot lengths so that a completed
film contains but four or five Joints; wire developing drumB by which the
deveopment is easily ascertained by an electric light put in the center. He
has thought out a plan which he will present to you for simplifying your film
department without antagonizing the present management and to the end that
all of your output can be satisfactorily waterproofed according to original
‘intent.
I presume ere this yon have seen Mr. Spoor who is now East and I
!at mmML Wmtvrproof Him Go.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made WXsiiable with "Water
Process and machinery Patents Pending
4300-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
Mr. F. I. D. ~#2
hope aa a result he will want his machinery set up immediately.
We had a call, this week from Mr. Vic. Smith of the Vitagraph Company
who came to Chicago to see Mr. John Rock take his third degree in Masonry.
He also brought congratulations and a 3 l/2K diamond ring from the Senior
Rock.
Mr' Berst has been in the City for several days but returns this
pjl.. Mr. Montagu, his Chicago representative, goes East also, his place
being taken hero by a new man.
Y.ours very truly.
NATION AX WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
*
National VfivutMtooF Bum ©9.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with "WAter
April 2nd, 1910.
Geo. F. Scull-Asst. to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
/ sin°a writing you this morning I picked up the streaked film
which was enclosed in your last letter, and unconscientiously began
ruhhing it with my thumb and finger. A3 a result it seemed as though
the streaks had disappeared which 1 should think indicated that the trouble
was not in the coating but on it. I return the sample in question.
Yours very truly,
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
Pres.
« #
NATIONAL WwniRPROOP PlUi Ca
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with "Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4300-4202 WEST ADAMS ST. *
©ton® <&.©©„
Mr. Geo. F. Scull, Asst, to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Manufacturing Company,
Orange, N. J.
Dear Sir:-
April 2nd, 1910.
Replying to your favor of the 30th: Prom what you say about the new
tank of solution acting perfectly, it is evident that some chemical reaction
or foreign substance has got into the objectionable tank. Without knowing
the number of the. tank we are unable to trace when it was made, but it appears
to us that it must have been the last lot at the time we made twelve barrels
all from material purchased at one time so it would not seem possible that
one barrel would react and another would not. You know these tanks are tinned
trusts tAjji,
inside and out and it may be that the tinning is off on the inside of the^poor
solution and that rust made have formed and discolored it as well as effecting
the chemical composition. However,, Mr. Thompson will thoroughly investigate
this matter early next week. He is due to arrive in Orange at 6:45 Monday
morning.
I am very sorry that Mr. Dyer did not get a chance to talk with
Mr. Spoor about waterproofing, as I believe it was one of the important reasons
for his going to Hew York,
Yours very truly.
NATIONAT, WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
Rational Waterproof Rum to.
CAPITAL $ 100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Penoinc
April 2nd, 1910.
Geo. F. Scull, Asst, to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Grange , II. J.
Dear Sir:-
Referring to the remarks about money in your March 30th, will say
that we have received this morning $600.00 on account. This will help some,
hut will not- enable us to pay our bills. Since my return from Hew York I have
advanced the Company #798.71.'
\'ie sent you a statement yesterday showing that you owe us #2494.97.
According to our records we owe you $572.14, leaving $1922.83, and giving you
credit for the $600.00 received today leaves $1322.83 due us which 1 hope
you will be able to send us this week without fail.
. Yours very truly.
MAT I OH AT, WATERPROOF FIRM COMPANY
Pres.
April fi(., 1910
Mr. V.'. A. DanielB,
o/o national Waterproof 1’ilm Co.,
4200 West Ad am a Otreet,
Chicago, 111.
Dear Hr. Daniels
Your three letters of April 2nd are
at hand. It bo happens that the Company ju3t at this
time is tied up for the want of ready cash und that was
the reason v/hy only a part of your account was sent you.
1 doubt very much whether the remainder of your account
will be sent you this week or not, but I shall do uiy best.
The film coating -iSr^he now eolution is going
along nicely now, and Thompson has started in to find
out if possibly what in the cause of the clouding of the
other tanks. We were aware that this discoloration could
be wiped off, and we also found that on rq-coating the
white spots could be re-dissolved, but of course this
latter method of treatment wan impracticable,' and even
though the spotB would wipe off, we were; a bit uncertain wb
whether or not they would reappear.
1 bad a chance .to talk to Mr. 3po6r the day he
left Hew York for Chicago, which was alter we had started
#2
Mr. W. A. Daniels.
coating with the solution from the new tank. He
up the question of waterproofing himself, and as
said, his chief difficulty seems to he over the ]
Dyer and 1 have given considerable thought to th<
of some kind of a proposition which you can make
Manuf aoturers, including hpoor and when Hr. Dyer
at some definite conclusion, I ?/ill adviee you.
Yours very truly,
brought
you have
-rice . Mr.
5 matter
to the
arrives
Gl’S/AHK.
Assistant to Vice-President.
* f
ItelSNM HWiliPltOOF PhlM ©6.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with AVater
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4300-4202 WESTADAMS ST.
©ikiucsa©®.
April 9th, 1910.
Soo . F. Scull, Asst, to Vice-Fres.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, H. J.
Bear Sin-
Replying to your favor of the 6th2 We are very sorry to hear of
any stringency which prevents your sending' us the balance of our account.
Of course this is the end of the week and as we have not heard from you
must now look forward to hearing next week. We must certainly get some¬
thing, if not the balance of the account, for our next Saturday's pay roll
and I want to ask if you will not see that at least another $600.00 is sent
to us. The 2Q washing machines at 'Bell 'and Howell, are practically finished
and this means a debt of over a thousand dollars when they are delivered.
Wo have less than $50.00 in the bank and at best will have the hardest kind
of sledding to tide over until the first of the month when we are depending
upon the $1200.00 for April account. By the way, how do you propose to
handle this? Shall . we send, you a bill on account of royalty or will you
send us the money without any bill and use our receipt on account as your
voucher.
I note what you say regarding talk with Mr. Spoor on waterproofing
and shall be glad to hear from you further with regard to it.. I believe
that every one in Spoor’s establishment is heartily in favor of the process
and that they lose no opportunity to urge him. to get started.
We have quite a few orders for waterproofing the "Boosevelt-African"
pictiires and expect to be quite busy next week. Among other orders we
have one for Kleine Chicago and Kleine Benver, with Eleine of How York to
heat from.
We had two old reals this week to wash for the Pacific Coast Borax
Company. One of these they state has been run two thousand times. After
it was washed with the exception of perhaps fifty or seventy five feet
on each end you would have declared it to be a brand new film. It is in-
creditable that the film has been rxin the number of times they are willing
to make affidavit.
We have a very nice letter from Bathe FrereB this morning of which
the enclosed is a copy. ' We consider it qtiite a boost to our integrity
v/hen they will entrust the shipment of such valuable films to us.
Yours very truly,
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
*
NATIONAL UtalltPROOF RimOOi
CAPITAL $ 100,000.
Moving Picture Films made 'Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
*200-4202 WEST ADAMS- ST.
©wse.JMa©.
April 15th, 1910.
Geo. 3?. Scull, Asst, to Vice-Pros.,
Edison Mfg. Co.,
Orange ,11. J .
Dear Sir:-
, Y/e wish to acknowledge receipt of yours of the llth and thank you
for your information regarding the stock used on the"Roosevelt" pictures.
V/e had quite a number of orders for waterproofing these films *and Paths
Freres were very kind in sending to us in advance. A number of our orders
did not resell them, however, until after they had shipped direct, to the
exchanges .
Y/e had an order from Kleine for waterproofing a set for their
Denver and one for their Chicago office but it seems that Mr. Kleine who is
in Hew York advised Mr. Berst to ignor the- order to ship these to us and to
send them to his Chicago office, so up to the present time we have not re¬
ceived these and it looks as though we never would.
We have recently- cleaned up some films waterproofed a year ago for
the Pacific Coast Borax Company and one of these has a record of having been
run two thousand times. It is in such excellent condition that we are
going to try to bring it to the attention of Mr. Selig who made the film,
phis effort is to he made upon the return of Mr. Selig from Hew York. It
: certainly ought to interest him.
V/e only have money enough for our tomorrow's reduced pay roll
j not having received iany remittance this week to date from the Edison Manufac¬
turing Company. .Y/e don't like to harp on this one string but we should con-
! aider it a great favor if your people would either send us a check for the
: balance of our account or send ns a note for thirty or sixty days that we
, couia discount. Under such a settlement we are sure the Edison Company
I would he willing to pay the cost.
A first run Biograph film went to pieces in a half a day in one
. of the theatres here on Madison Street and was returned to the Theatre Pilm
• Supply Company as absolutely worthless. It was a fortunate thing that this
was not a waterproofed film, otherwise we should have heard that waterproofing
ir was responsible .
j.;'/ Yours very truly, ,
■ , MATIOMAI, WATERPROOF FILM COMPAEY
aeo. F. Scull, Asst,
• *
lAfiomi Wmmpmaow Bum to.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS- ST.
April 21st, 1910.
Dear Sir:-
. to Vice-Pres.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, 11. J.
Y.'e are in receipt of your telegram of the 20th, reading, "Check
mailed last night". We also want to say that check was received this morning
and that it is a great relief.
I was in a had frame of mind yesterday regarding it and other film
matters. It seems that the "Roosevelt" pictures <2 sets) for the Clune
Film Exchange which we waterproofed failed to reach Dos Angeles until two
days after release. „We have been chasing the Express Company the whole
week to trace these goods. We received the films on the afternoon of the
11th, shipped at noon on the 12th and hired a special wagon to take the goods
to the Express Company's office in our section of the city. We obtained
the usual receipt and the goods went J;o the Chicago, & Northwestern Depot
(down tov/nj that afternoon. They were "received in* but checked out short, so
the Express Company could not tell by Y/hat route they had gone or if at all. Y/e
felt the goods had beer, stolen but we find nov/ that they v/ent to Ogden, Utah,
by the American and vie re transferred there to V/ells Fargo, reaching Clune tv/o
days late as above stated. Clune is preparing affidavits v/ith which to get
after the express company for his loss v/hieh he claims Y/ill be about one
thousand dollars. He must have had some good contracts for shoeing these
films if two sets would have brought him one thousand dollars in two days.
However, it is not for us to question this, hut I doubt whether he Y/ill
ever collect so much from the Express Company.
1 presume that hy this time Mr. G-illson has called on you and that
he is today in V/ashington.
Mr. Howell of Bell & Hov/ell has also gone East taking with him for
demonstration one of his perforating machines and one of his continuous
printers such as are used by Mr. Spoor. Mr. Howell thinks that he can con¬
vince you that much of your trouble of films going to pieces can be traced
to irregular perforations. He also thinks that he has a perfect printing
machine Which I know nothing about, hut Mr. Thompson was voiy much pleased
.v/ith it when he visited the Spoor plant.
Yours very truly.
HKtlONAL¥taniRPR06F RlWlCO.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with "Water
Process and machinery Patents Penoing
4300-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
GNIiGASe*
May Xlth, 1910.
Geo. F. Scull, ' ABBt.., Gen. Mgr.,
.Edison Manufacturing Co . ,
Orange, II. J.
Dear 3ir:-
I am in receipt of your favor of the 9th and of course am very
much interested to hear such good reports from waterproof films. I hear
through Mr. Thompson that the Vitagraph Exchange have also reinstated
waterproof films and reported that hereafter they did not want any other
kind. I attribute this in part to Vic. Smith who paid ixs a visit recently,
neither those people nor Jlleine have a washing machine. If a waterproof
film is in remarkably good shape as stated by Kleine of I!.ew York it would
be in much better shape if it was run through our washer once a week .
We had quite a meeting of Independents here last week which I suppose
you have already heard about.
We are doing very little business but are still waiting for develop¬
ments from the General Film Company.
Yours very truly,
KAT1QHA1 WATEIUrBOOF FILM COMPAJJY
c/o Nat'l Phono. Co.,
The letter which I enclose is writ
ten at the suggestions of Mr. Daniels, with the u
derstanding that it is in accordance with a talk
you had with Mr. Daniels.
If this is not along the lines you
wish, kindly advise and I will make such changes i
Yours very truly.
FKB-278
[ENCLOSURE]
......
BOULEVARD. CALIFORNIA AVENUE S ISJtj, STREET.'
Chicago,
Prank L. Dyer, Pres.,
Motion Picture Patents Co.,
New York, N. Y.
Dear Mr. Dyerj-
.. i. . You know I have quite an investment with Mr. Daniels in
Fdinnn^iT1 WaterPr0Bf ^llm Company. Through the waterproofing of tie
Edison films you are doubtless fully posted as to the advantages of
the process, so I will come at once to my point. 8 f
T • Rather than to further increase our investment in the
1 have prevailed upon Mr. Daniels to consent to my offering
y°u *° djep°f8 of the business to the Patents Company of whlfh
is&yijsrjs-'u^viss4.*^,
S lf£¥ ;s - s'fflVS-
nu \ ?h0 ComPany has no obligations and would then surrender
a^ve ln whinhd,f « °?\?f *u?inBBB ""lees you should Slsll So kee f
Six *rr*ne* t0 a8lIver <">“ *n
We have three patents issued in Pranoei
FIRST! An Article patent.
■
v’ ON the other side.
Of .iiJSJHS S^STo?"tthfi.^SSf™?a "* ”»«'
We have four patents In this country.
FIRST: An artloel patent allowed not Issued.
SECOND: A Coating machine Issued.
THIRD: Drying machine issued.
FOURTH: Process patent allowed not issued,
reason to^l^V^ " ha
lnformBt5Ly^aVrintere8ted in this 0ff8r and need any further
Pre80ntatlon *> ^ur CompanyypleasMet
Meanwhile, I remain
Yours very truly,
Mr. Fred Batson,
liar shall Boulevard £c California Ave.,
Chicago, Ill.
Ify dear Sir:-
JiT. Uyer duly received yours of the 21st
inst enclosing a letter addressed to him as President of
the tfotion Picture Patents Company, and wished me to state
to you that this letter covers exactly what he v/anted. \
On further discussion' we have concluded tha£
the present would not he the psychological moment in which
to spring this proposition. Unfortunately heoause of dif¬
ficulties which we have experienced in coating. non- inflamm¬
able film, the proposition has received something of a set
hack in the mindB of the trade, and it will probably be
sometime before the confidence of the trade iB restored,
as we hope it will be now that we believe we have overcome
all of the bad effeots which we were getting.
Yours very truly.
GFS/ARK.
Assistant General Manager
Hay 26, 1910,
Hr. VV. A. Daniels,
42CC West Adams Street,
Chicago, 111.
Dear Hr. Daniels:-
In accordance with conversations which
Hr. Dyer had with you, Mr. Bah son has written Mr. Dyer a
letter proposing to sell out the whole waterproofing proposi¬
tion to the Patents Company for $50,000. Since his return,
we have discussed the matter at considerable length and de¬
cided that the present is not the host time in which to spring
the proposition on the Manufacturers. Prom what I can gather
not one of them is sufficiently impressed with the quality
of waterproofed film to make them willing to consider the
matter at all. This indifference may he overcome after Borne
months, if we continue to turn out during a considerable period
waterproofed film which iB unquestionably good, and as you
know, unfottunately, in the past we have not been able to do
this.
I also believe that if we oan sluw that we have an
application allowed, or a patent granted covering the water¬
proofed film as an article, we will be in a much bbronger
Hr. Y/.. A. Daniels.
position than we are now with simply, an application pending
for it with no broad claims allowed. .1 have written Messrs.
Gillson & Gillson in regard to this application and have
not heard from them, it was on this application^ you will
reoall, that Mr. Gillson went to Washington for ub.
Yours very truly,
GFS/ARK.
Assistant General Manager.
fcilPIOiF FhlM to*
CAPITAL $ 100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Mach in cry Patents Pending
4300-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
Geo. F . Scull, Asst. Gen. Mgr.,
Edison Mf g . Co.,
Hoy 26th, 1910.
Dear Sir:-
May 17th Mr. Bahson oent me a copy of a letter he proposed sending
to Hr. Dyer. In malting suggestions for changes I specified the condition of
our patents Both in this country and Europe. I understand today that Mr.
Bahson copied my letter verbatim.
I wish to make a correction regarding the Article patent allowed but
not issuoa"in this country. Until I saw Mr. Gillson today I supposed that
if the revised application was not allowed we had .a sure thing on going hack
and tailing out tho Article patent as originally applied for and allowed. But
Mr. Gillson tolls mo that while this is the usual course, still the opening
up of an old application allowed is sometimes followed by rejection.
Since May 17 wo have notice of allowance of our English patent on the drying
We are doing absolutely nothing in the way of business here; the
Independent trade having dropped off since we withdrew our advertising from-
the trade papers and the license business has not recovered from its appre¬
hension as to what the General Film Company may do.
Some of our washing machines that were out on rental are being
returned, the reasons 3eem'to he all about like the Western whose letter I
enclose you. Howard of Boston and Flintom of the Yale have both paid for
their machines in full, hut these arc the only two who have preferred owning
tho machines to renting them. We still o vie ,£550.00 to Bell &;:Howell on
washing machines.. I shall pay this as soon as I receive the next remittance
from you.
Yours very truly.
RATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM COMPMY
Pres.;
NATIONAL WATERPROOF PiiKl CO.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
<§Qr3I<S£U3®>,>
May 27th, 1910.
Goo. IT. Scull, Asst. Gen. Mgr.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, 11. J.
Dear Sir : -
Mr. Thompson sends ns a list of 21 exchanges who are receiving
films not waterproofed from you. In this list we note the Calumet Film .
Exchange of Chicago. Mr. Freuler who owns this exchange also owns the' Western
in Milwaukee. 1 sent you a letter from him yesterday* Mr. Ereuler has told
us a number of times that he did not think waterproofing had anything to
do with the Edison films going to pieces. We shall see him Monday in Chicago
and endeavor to get him to reinstate the waterproof film with the Calumet.
We are surprised to loam that the Kleine Optical Company of Hew York
City is on this list for Mr. Willis was always an advocate of- waterproofing.
We are told at the office of ‘the Kleine Optical Company of Chicago that the ;
"Roosevelt in Africa"' pictures which we waterproofed for them are still in 7:
service and in good condition. This same subject at Spoor's (2 copies) are
both in good condition, examined two or three days ago. In fact v/e have had
no -complaints whatever of this film having gone to pieces.
Yve wish to reduce this list of exchanges who are not using waterproof-
ing and to this end have thought about sending oiit a letter to them as per
enclosed, but before doing so wish to submit it to you for approval, correction
or condemnation. Y/e oertainly do not wish to do anything which would refloat. ■;
upon the. Edison product , but it seems tons that you are as much interested
i«I©HJIiW«lRm©©F nunCOl
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Penoino
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
as v:e are to know if .films of other manufacturers when waterproofed will
moot the objections which yours have.
Yours very truly,
NATIONAL Y/ATEIiPKOOF FILM COMPANY
Pres .
National WvNtMtoor ta Go.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with 'Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
George F.. Scull* Asst. Gen. Mgr.
Edison Ufg. Co.,
Orange , H . J .
Dear Sir:-
I am in receipt of your 26th. Apparently the thing to do is to wait
until we hear from Washington regarding the Article patent. In the mean
time I want to, urge upon you the necessity of radical changes in your
sprocket holes. Coming from an outsider this may seem presumptuous, hut
since so many Edison films prematurely go to pieces and waterproofing is
wrongfully blamed for it I have made an exhaustive study to discover the
true reason. Everything points to your perforations.
FIRST: It is, a mechanical impossibility to perforate more than one
thickness of film at a time and make clean holes. The holes so perforated
will under microscopic examination be found to have a burred edge which is
rough. Such an edge will tear more easily than a clean cut. You can demon¬
strate this with a piece of paper.
SECOUD: Your holes are not spaced correctly by 5/32 " to a foot or
about one sprocket hole in every two feet of film. This is the reason why
every operator will tell yon that they have to frame an Edison oftener
than any other.
THIRD: Your films do not hug the sprocket wheel like the best; they
go too far around the wheel and before leaving it get a back pull at "X"
(see rough drawing enclosed). This puts an extra strain on the film and /
lips the sprocket holes. These lip3 are but the beginning of a tear.
FOURTH: I enclose a correct mathematical calculation for sprocket holes
to fit a sprocket wheel with diameter of 15/16.
I am not selling perforating machines, but I would like to see you
put in and use enough of Bell &':Howell’s to convince yourselves that this
is the one lame spot in the Edison production of moving picture films. I
believe that Bell & Howell will guarantee you satisfactory results and that
the machines will pay for themselves in 30 days.
You must know as well as I do that waterproofing can be in no way
responsible for all the trouble you have had, for as stated in the Western
Film Exchange letter ( I sent you this week) your films go to pieces whether
they are waterproofed or not. Of course we hear some complaints about
other makes but they are not. so frequent and besides this we are not so much
interested. We have- never- yet heard a complaint on Bathe, Essanay or Selig
films waterproofed and we have done many of the first and second.
May 28th, 1910.
r r<&CElVEcP|''
MAY 3 11910 j
F. SCUIL j
. . . - J
• »
National Hwekproop' Bm Co.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water'
Process and Machinery Patents Penoing
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
G.
S.~#2.
I hope you will accept this letter in the kindly spirit that it is
sent and that you will promptly act upon it, otherwise waterproofing will
continue to receive undeserved punishment which will knock it out completely .
With host wishes, I remain
Yours very truly,
RATIONAL WATKRPROOF FILM COMPANY
Pres.
[ATTACHMENT]
SUBJECT: MOVIJffl PICTURE VJJX PEREORATIKC SAT7GE.
The Boli & Howell Co. hereby desires to show clearly, in the following
.computation, how we have determined and shy we have adopted a standard
of 11.968" per 64 holes perforating gauge, assuming that all projecting
machines have sprocket wheels with a diameter of 16/l6ths", or .9375" .
Computation as follows:
Riameter of sprocket, .9375"
Circumference of Sprocket; 2.94525"
How, as films have an average thidknoss .'0065", we must add to the
diameter of the sprocket .0065" to determine the pitch diameter, which is
.9375 plus .0065” equals .944", P.T). of sprocket.
Pitch circumference is 3.1416 x .944"- 2.965704".
Ciroxilar Pitch is 2.965704" divided (16, number of teeth) equals
.18534815"
Perforating gauge of Rowell Perforator being 11.968" per 64 holes.
Average allowance for shrinkage- 3/32" or .0937" per 64 holes is
11.968" minus .0937" equals 11.8743" (shrunken film per 64 holes).
The pitch of the film, or length per hole, is:
11.8743" divided by 64 equals .18553"
Pitch of Sprocket, .18534815"
Pitch of Film, .18553000"
THE BELL & HOWELL COMPANY.
[ATTACHMENT]
' OPA .ognairO
June T! , 1910
Mr. VI. A. Daniple,
o/o National Waterproof Film Company,
4200 We at Adame Street,
Chicago, Ill.
Dear Sir:- •
I duly received yours of May 26th, '27th and 28th.
i dp not see how your proposed letter to exchangee not talc¬
ing Edison waterproofed film can be interpreted in any other
way than at? a knock to Edieon films, and, therefore., can/iot
approve of the iseuanoes'of 'the letter. The very f apt that'
you disclaim any intention to knook pur films, oallB atten¬
tion to the fact that the letter iB necessarily very dis¬
paraging to our output.
We have heard statements Bimilar to those you
make in yours of the 28th ult . with reference to our perfor¬
ations, being faulty. It may be that they are, but from such
light as we can get on the subject at this. end, we are un¬
able to Bee why this is bo. I enclose. two seotionB of film,
one of which wae perforated one thickneBB at a time, and the
other two thicknesses at .4 time.' I doubt that you: can
tell which is which. We have tried put this point pretty
//2 Mr. V/. A. Daniels.
thoroughly here, and are unahle to determine that there is
any difference.
Our films are perforated G4 holes to the foot. Ac¬
cording' to the scientific deduction of Bellr'&lHowall , we
should have 64 holes in 11.968 indheB. In other words,
there is a thirty- seoond of an inoh difference in every
64 holes between our perforations and the Bell & Howell.
You will note that their deductions are based on an assump¬
tion of an average allowance for shrinkage of 3/32 for 64
holeB. As an average, this, may be all right, but unfortu¬
nately, we have never been able to find any. two pieces of
film shrink alike, and we do not believe that a difference
between our perforations and that of Bell & Howell, so far
as spacing i6 concerned, is any difference whatever. You
may be correct in the statement that our films do not hug
the sprocket wheels properly. If this is so, I do not know
the reason. We hav e attempted to copy the dimensions of. the
seems to have been giving the l^Bt
We have tried out sections of film on the Bell &
Howell perforator and printer and have run them before. a
mixed audienoe of men who are oapable of intelligently
judging, but who had no knowledge as to which prints were
made on our machines and whioh on the Bell & Howell, and
praotioally the unanimous vote under, these oirounmtanoes
Bathe perforater£gwhich
results. ' '
#3
Mr. V/. A. Daniels.
waB in favor of our printB so far as steadiness on the
screen was oonoerned. I have looked up the matter of the
use of the Bell & Howell machines pretV tarefully and
have not Been able to BatiBfy myself that they would pay
for themselves in anything like thirty days. 1 do not
know by what figures you arrive at your conclusions. Uy
own personal opinion is that our films, particularly those
waterproofed, have been giving more dissatisfaction, be¬
cause in our endeavor 'to take out the brittleness, of which
complaint had formerly been made, we have gotten them too
soft. This is particularly true of waterproofed film which
was released up to about a week ago. Thoee released from'
that time on, and waterproofed as they should be, are not
so soft. Vfe are also cutting down the amount of glycerin
in the unwaterproofed film.
V/e arc receiving very few complaints nowadays
from exchanges in reference to our film breaking down, and
I cannot believe that this would be the case if our 'films
were so very rau oh worse than any other make in this respect.
.1 presume that after reading the. foregoing you
will conclude that we are inclined to be bullheaded and ore
closing our eyes to a condition which we ought to recognize,,
but we must be guided by what we believe to ‘be the facts,
judging by the while, situation as we see it, rather than by
any statements which .1 know personally, coming. from op eratorj,
are often based on conclusions reached without very muoh
thought or aotual observation.
• T
#4
1 hare looked up the correspondence to which
you call ray attention in yourB of the 4th inst., and find
that -1 was in error in reference to the amount which we
should send you, and our Acoountant states that $600 iB
being sent you today, and payment Bhould he considered as
of the first. The other $600 is to follow on the 16th inst.
I do not know how we will eventually have to adjust these
payments, because with the number of films which we are
now waterproofing the royalties cannot possibly be more than
$600 per month.
Yours very truly,
GFS/ARK. Assistant General Manager.'
Eno.
Mr. V/. A. Daniils.
National HwiRPiteoF nun Go.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made 'Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4200-4302 WEST ADAMS ST.
June 10th, 1910.
Seo. F. Soull, Asst. gen. Mgr.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, N. J.
Dear Sir:-
Replying to your favor of the 7th;
I agree that faots should govern and one of the most important which
confronts us is that the Edison film (waterproofed or not) has leBS wearing
quality than any other. Talking with an Exchange man today he said fThat
because of this when business grew dull he always cancelled his Edison order
first" * I am sure he is not the exception and my anxiety to reverse such a
condition is my excuse for writing you so plainly.
Neither of the two pieces of film you enclose have clean out perfor¬
ations so it is difficult to say which has been run double, but it is probably
the shorter piece marked "X". .In your test of the Bell > and Howell perfora¬
ting machine by whioh it was decided the pictures were unsteady, were both the
negative and positive perforated with their machine? If only the positive
the test was unfair for the picture oould not have been steady under this con¬
dition. The 3/3E "average" allowance for shrinkage which B. & H. use in
their calculation should read "Maximum" for 3/3H average would call for
some shrinkage in excess which I believe will never ooour under proper1 handling
Inasmuch as neither Paths nor Selig use Bell & Howell machines it is evident
that good perforations do hot depend upon using them. But if you should "
deoide-to try their perforators (or and printers) they will put them in on
a 90 day trial and if they don't Berve to reduoe the number of complaints
and returned film and are not otherwise satisfactory Bell & Howell will re¬
move the machines without charge.
I understand that the Vitagraph Company has a good perforating
machine except that it is constantly losing its adjustment; starts out O.K.
but cannot maintain it. This may aooount for some of their films running
fine and some going to pieces before release day; this recently happened,
the film being so "Shot"- by running in the exchange for exhibitors that
another copy had to be sent for to rent. This is told to call your attention
to a possibility of varying adjustment with your own machines just as a clock
sometimes varies a few seconds every hour and finally has to be reset.
I I shall be very glad to know that with lesB glycerine and reduced
strength of- sizing you can overcome all future trouble, but I must admit
some doubt. I believe the closer your sprocket holes approach the Bell & Howell
National VGvmMtobF ftm Go.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made "Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4200-4302 WEST ADAMS ST.
June 10th, 1910.
exaat calculation the leas you will have the film riding past the center on
the average sprocket hheei. At any rate if your sprocket holeB are correct
Spoor's must "be wrong for he uses B. & H. measurements exactly.
From what you say about our royalties, I judge your business has
fallen off considerably - I hope this does not account for the "Fewer com¬
plaints lately" which you mention.
I expect to go East the latter part of this month when I shall be
glad to discuss matters with you further in hopes that it may lead to our
mutual advantage.
G. F. S.-- #2.
Yours very truly,
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
t
National Wvsnmoor FkiM Co.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4300~4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
June 13th, 1910.
Geo. F. Soull, Asst. gen. Mfg.
Edison Mfg. Co.,
Orange, H. J.
Dear Sir;-
As you know the character of Mr. Singhi of the hub in Company better
than I do, I want to ask your advice about another effort to introduce our
machinery in their plant. She last time I saw the gentleman he stated
that as soon as the new factory was finished they would put in our coating
machinery provided we could come to terms on the contract. Shore was no
question with him as to the price and he stated that he was willing to leave
out the clause in the last contract about export films, but he would in¬
sist upon the privilege of stopping waterproofing if he found it was hurting
his business. Otherwise he knew of nothing in the contract which would
be necessary to change.
I thought that when I saw him again I would offer to put machinery
in for 90 days without any charge except for solution, which time would be
sufficient for him to know whether it was hurting his business or .not, and
then have our contrac^^jfrgm the expiration of the three months.
Y/'e have three drying machines here of the old style which could be
rebuilt at an expense of about one thousand dollars. Y/e should have to
buy three new coating machines or use the three we have here which were built
for Spoor. This would leave us one drying machine and one coater here
which will take care of such work as we are getting at present.
After Spoor returns I want to see him and find out just what he
proposes, and if he declines absolutely to start waterproofing we could use
his machines in Philadelphia without any extra expense.
Yours very truly.
National WMmmmmow Him ©a
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4300-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
<&BQ!l©aV©®»
June 29th, 1910.
Geo. F. Scull, Asst. Gen. Mgr.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Dear Sir:-
Orange, H. J.
There is no exchange which has gone into our proposition as
intelligently as the Theatre Film Supply Company here. They have for some
months been anxious to contract with us to waterproof all of their pur¬
chases under an exclusive agreement for a certain territory. Tho forecast
of what the General ^ilm Company might do has alone prevented the fruition
of this plan. Wow that the expected has come to pass* and the Theatre
Film Supply Company is no longer in existence the proposition has been
pushed along hy them to the Vice-President of the G. F. Co:. They argue
that if it was a good thing for the Theatre Film Supply Company it is as
good or better for the General Film Company, and Mr. Kleine has promised
to take the matter tip at the earliest opportunity. I give you this
advance information so that you raey help the, thing along if you will.
Waterproofed films, properly cared for, are. "Sure money" for
any exchange and now that the manufacturers are directly interested in
rental profits as well as in manufacturing, it should not he difficult for
them to see the advantages of clean' and lasting films. Every day the pub¬
lic and exhibitors are growing towards cleaner picturos. The popular
mirror screen so magnifies rain that owners must have clean films or discard
the mirrors.
' The exclusive feature of waterproofing should be worth much in
view of some opposition to the G. F. which we hear is in the air. With
a general arrangement with the General, we could, with this factory and' another
East, take care of all the E. F. Co. purchases.
The price we had stated to the Theatre Film was $3.50 per reel,
and free installation of washing machines (motors excepted) sufficient
to wash all films promptly. This leads to the idea that the waterproof
patents would not he a had thing for the G. F. td> own, especially might #
they come in handy some day to oilonoe possible cries of illegal monopoly,
restraint of trade" and” Sherman act,” sto. Inasmuch as they arc in a
purchasing mood just now, they might like to got a five luuidred thousand
dollar proposition like ours for one h\mdred thousand dollars or so, oven
if they pay for it in good 7# preferred stock.
I don't want to say any more about sprocket holes, hut I quote
from a letter received this week from a lioonsed exchange:
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FI LB! CDi
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with WAter
Process and Machinery Patents Penoino
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
(Bsaflesv©®*
> find that when a Solig film breaks on ns there is a straight
through the partition between the sprocket holes and inasmuch as it
itf txanal-lJr but a single section of a reel, we account for this as its being
sto0ij. With the Edison however, it seems as though the sprocket
right into the film and if only causally inspected you would never
U<»ci ce there y,as anything wrong, but when put in a machine it is impossible
to keep the pi0ture in frame on account of the teeth engaging in the sprocket
heJ«o ar7 thSn slipping into the torn parts, making a very unsteady picture
Za reQniring the film to be mended iritwo or throe places before it can
run through again." 1
I understand that Mr. Dyer was here Monday, headed towards Reno
jjtfTad.fi. out of course on business only. I am sure he wouldn't look
at & p^i2® fight any more than you or I would (unless we had good front
00^8) ~
Hoping *0 seo yon about the 10th of next month, I remain
MAT I QUAD WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
Pres.
iJWlOKALlfcERPBOOF ftwCO.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
©imtssva©*
July 8th, 1910.
Geo. F. Scull, Asst. Gen. Mgr.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, IT. J.
Bear Sir:-
Vfe wrote the Edison Manufacturing Company under date of July 2nd
as per enclosed copy. We credited you with all that the chemists credited
us, hut instead of changing the number of gallons we changed the price
per gallon which brought the same result.
X shall leave here tomorrow and be in Hew York Tuesday night or
Wednesday morning. I am going via the Steamer "ilorthland" to Buffalo,
taking three nights and two days to reach there. I am going to stay at the
Hotel Belmont this time for my experience has been that it is the.cooleBt ‘
hotel in Hew York if you can get a room high up on the East side.
I shall be glad to see you Wednesday either in Orange or Hew York
as is most convenient. You might drop me a letter on this point to the
Hotel Belmont.
Yours truly,
HATIOHAB WATETtPPOOF FIBM COMPAHY
Eres.
p. s’. Just received notice from Gillson that pur German patent application,
on Film Bryihg Machine has been and allowed ana will issue as #223954.
National WinimtOQr ¥im ®@>»
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable -with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4300-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
©saaem®,
July 28th, 1910.
Geo, F, Scull i Asst. Gen. Mgr.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, M. J.
Dear Sir:-
Upon my return to Chicago I saw. Mr. Aiken of the Theatre Film Supply
Company Monday morning. He seemed very glad to hear of the arrangement as I
reported it, hut said he had no advices from Mr. Waters or Mr. Kennedy regard¬
ing it. However, on the strength of what I told him he made arrangements
hy having built at once a gallery floor to take care of five of our washing
machines in his place. This work, however, is^held up pending some word
from head quarters.
AS nothing has been heard up to noon this day, I wired you as
follows which I now confirm
" Aiken not advised of our arrangement with Kennedy for waterproofing.
I wired Kennedy Monday but have no reply. Please investigate delay."
I also enclose you a copy- of my telegram: of Monday to Mr. Kennedy.
I presume the whole delay is occasioned by Mr. Kennedy being called away from
the city.
Yours very truly,
NATIONAL WATEHPHOOF FILM COMPANY
[ENCLOSURE]
—"the WESTERI*' UNION TELEGRAPt COMpAwY.
- INCORPORATED -
24,000 OFFICES IN AMERICA. CABLE SERVICE TO ALL THE WORLD.
ROBERT C. C LOWRY, President and General Mnnagar, _ • _
SEND the following message subject to the
on back hereof, which are hereby agreed to.
' general' Film Co ,.
•8 Fifth Ave". , Mew York, H ■■ Y. _ , _ _ „ |
Will you please instruct Mr. Aiken as to our arran'gement / for waterproofing* 1
his new releases. ■ .
■ “ : ]!►. A. Daniels. ~ " ' i
•Ttiiy gRfh, l«nn
C 0 P.Y )
t5y READ T’HE-NOTICE AND AGREEMENT ON BACK. _®l
Waterproof Rum Co.
CAPITAL $ 100,000.
Moving Picture Films made AVasiiable with AVXter
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4300-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
Aug. 3rd, 1910*
Geo. F . Seull, Asst. Gen. Her.,
Edison Manufacturing Go.,
Orange, H. J.
Dear Sir-.-
I wire a you this any as follows which I now confirm
"Aiken st ill withont instructions regarding waterproofing. '.That
is the Trouble. Answer."
.1 suppose there is some very good reason for this aelny, hut not
being able to understand it yon can imagine that I am growing very anxious.
Can it he possible that we have another Spoor contract to contend with?
Mr. Aihen is just as anxious to begin waterproofing as I am and is just as
far from being able to understand the delay.
Y our s tnily,
1IAII0KA1 WATERPROOF FILM COKFAHY
Pres.
Mr. W. A. Daniels,
National waterproof pilm Co.
4200 West Adame gt . ,
Chicago, jn,
W dear Mr. Daniels:
I duly received your telegram of the
3rd X havn't heen able to find out just what is the matter
with our waterproofing proposition. I spoke to Mr. Kennedy
the other day in regard to it, and he explained that in view of
the fact that Ai^en was in the midst of a great deal of business
due to. the combination of his own and Kleine's Offices, that it
would be impossible for him to start waterproofing immediately,
but Mr. Kenedy promised me that instructions would be sent to
Chicago to begin this week, as I wired you.
X have the suspicion however, that there is
something else at the bottom of the matter, and I intend to find
out what it is this week if possible. In the meantime, I think
it would he well to do nothing whatever, so as not to force Mr.
Kennedy's hand.
yours very truly,
W Assistant General Manager.
National Waterproof Rum 6©.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pemoing
4300-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
Aug. 5th, 1910.
Mr. Geo. F. Scull, Asst. Gen. Mgr.,
Edison Manufacturing Co.,
Orange, H. J.
My dear Mr. Scull; -
In reply to your 3rd, the situation is certainly heyona my
conception. Mr. Kennedy's claim that Aiken is in the midst of a great deal
of business is true enough, but at the same time Aiken wants more business,
and through us has this week concluded an- arrangement by which he will serve
the Alcazar Theatre, /a place, that he has long desired but was unable to obtain,
and with which go five other theatres actually contracted. . ?
It is our purpose to influence a good deal of business to Mr. Aiken as soon
as they get started on waterproofing, and without boasting, we feel confident
of landing him more contracts in the next ninety days than he ever got before
in the same time.
Mr. Aiken is an anxious to begin waterproofing as we are to have
him. I understand the carpenter ha3 all the lumber out and made up for the
gallery floor, of which I have written yon previously. Mr. Aiken says, "In¬
side of twelve hours after he receives word to go ahead the floor will be
ready to receive our washing machines"..
This is the situation here, and the claim that Mr. Aiken is so full
of business that he cannot start in our proposition at any time is based
•dpon a misunderstanding of the facts.
Y/hen you find out the real trouble, if you think I can be of any
assistance in remedying it do not hesitate to wire me and I will leave
immediately. Y«e cannot afford to lose .this opportunity of showing the bene¬
fits of waterproofing.
lours truly,
MATIOHAIr WATERPROOF FILM COMPAMY
- 7^ U^.\T
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-aua-j ~J1 (L/l^aJCj <S>c> A'-eo ^/z>v
2~~2- ^Ad-jJCar 'S^-Ls$~A-~S kj—zr^otjo A~fl-0cb <
h~* -*■
(Asd-Jis £=&x=z^, cl^~^
<Xdt-J<d-J A'W-, auUu tCss<--cXL>
C^JZT cr^r tfv^-c fieZiuJ-
$ -/L^Uu, y<r^_j As-L&C ^uj 7^0,
/~J^->~j — «- /-jl^. _ <-J—y
/v^
^cf^I^X-/ fro AjaJic /yh*U^/>^*zy'9iih^ &L
Rational Waterproof Rim Co.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable wth >Vater
Process and Machinery Patents Penoino
<&gqii<§a®®»
Aliena t 11th, 1910.
Goo. F . Scull, Asst. Gen. Mgr.,
Edison Manufacturing Oo.,
Orange, N . J.
Bear Sir:-
Expected to hear from you yesterday, hut not having hoard up to
noon today I v/ired yon as follows which 1 now confirm:-
"Crazy to hear from- you as to prospects with Kennedy. Could X
do anything if there? Could he in IIcw York Monday. Wire."
1 am most anxious to know if this stoppage of waterproofing the
General Film Company's films here is only temporary or permanent, next,
I am anxious to know if it is through any fault of ours or our proposition
that the stoppage has occurred. As I have written you before, Mr. Aiken
seems as anxious to get started as we are and so we know that Mr. Kennedy's
excuse that Aiken was very hnsy is a subterfuge.
X feel as though I must see him 6r hear from you that the matter
will he speedily adjusted.
Yours vexy truly,
HAT IONA L WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
pros.
National W«nRPsoor Pima Co.
CAPITAL $ 100,000.
Moving Picture Films made MSvshable wra >VAter
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4300-4303 WEST A DAMS ST.
August 12th, 1910.
Geo. F. Soull, Asst. Gen. Mgr.,
Edison Mfg. .Co.,
Bear Sir:-
Orange, IK J.
I am very glad indeed to receive your telegram of this morning admon¬
ishing me against going either crazy or to Hew York, for to toll the truth I
am not anxious to go either way, hut I am certainly very much exercised over
this unaccountable situation. ;i»]y imagination cannot picture what has brought
it about. Evidently it is a matter of serious import, requiring as you say
cautious handling and not brute force.
I am veiy glad that Hr. Dyer will take the matter up within the
next few days, and I want to ask of you to wire me as soon as you have any
news of a settlement.
Meanwhile, I remain extremely anxious,
Ve ry t ruly yours ,
HASIONAIr WATERPROOF FILM COMPANY
Pres.
Aug. 18,1910,
Mr ,17 . A, Banleia,
4200 West Adams Street,
Chicago, Ill, '
My dear Mr, Daniels: -
Ur. Dyer had a talk with Mr. Kennedy, and I supplemented
it tod ay with another one. If seems that the things whioh I had
aurmised were standing in the way of your proposition have no basis .
At least, Mr. Kenned;: did not indicate that there was any suoh thing
against the proposition. Ho gave two reasons why the matter has not
been put through. The first was that it had been intimated that you '
wore getting out an extensive advertising campaign to call the atten¬
tion of tho exhibitors to this proposition, and this ho resented
sinoe the thing, was to be carried' out os an experiment. I understand^
of oourse, ■ that -you will believe that it oannot bo carried out suc¬
cessfully as an experiment unless the exhibitors’ attentions ore
balled yto it,, but in view of the oare with which we must necessarily
hondlh^th is proposition I think we will hgV0 to submit, and 1 would
suggest that on this head you write a letter to Mr. Kennedy saying
that £ told you what he had said, 'and assuring him thnt nothing
Of that kind will be done. I think this will remove 'one obstacle.
Ur. W. A. Denials
-2-
Aug. 18,1910,
In the seoond place he said that the business of the
Calumet Exchange- had been dumped in on Aiken in the last fen.
days, and he nill be almost swamped with work, and would have
absolutely no room for the-proposition , and he did not believe
that they would be ready to begin before ten days or two wools,
possibly. This matter, you can oonfirm for y. ur end, and I would
suggest that in the letter you write to Hr. Kennedy you ask him
to set a definite date on which you can bo ready to begin, and
this will probably put it up to him so that he may give you a
definite answer.
Yours very truly.
Assistant General Manager.
Mr. George ]?, .scoll
as at. Gen. ligr. Edison Mfg. Oo.
Orange , n . J .
-V y dear :;r. Sooll:
V/e are getting all of the Turner & Dahnlren
release except the Eiograph. I have written to Mr. Kennedy
asking for this hui; we got no reply and no film. If you can do
anything to induce him to ship Turner & Nahnken’s films to us,
it would he appreciated by us andTurner & Dahnken as well. V/e
have heard nothing from Mr. Kennedy regarding the gonerrl film
work, since I was in NewYork. I do not supose there is any use,
in your asking Mr. Kennedy about this. V/e have about
abandoned all hope in this direction. The delay is inexplain-
able.
We have the Spoor machines in our factory now and
~^M 1 . 33- setting them np they will be running by next Wednesday.
Yours truly
NATIONAL WATERPNOQP FILM CO .
Dio.W.A.D.
HmIONAL WOVRMIOOP Plus to*
CAPITAL $ 100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
0 Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
Vi Sept. 16th. 1910
Mr. J. F. Scull
Assistant Sup. Edison Mfg. Co.
Orange , M . 3 .
My dear Mr. Scoll:
I am glad to advise you that the first
installment of Turner & Dahnken's Biograph pictures came in
to day. We also had a letter from the Biograph Company stating
that they would send all of Turner & Dahnken's releases to
us in the future. This now gives us all, and to day we
shipped them eleven reels.
Yours truly
Natjonm. WtaraRpnoor Fiu« Co.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Penoing
4200*4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
©ean©m®»sept. 27th. 1910
George F. Scull,
Assistant Gen. Mgr. Edison Mfg. Co.
Orange, H. J.
My dear Mr. Scull:
I am in receipt of youj-s of the 19th. It seems
to me that it will he best to say nothing further to Mr. Kennedy.
Eerhaps in his own good time he will bring the subject up
himself. I saw Mr. Spoor yesterday. He expects to go east this
week. He thinks our ooathing would be of great advantage to the
General Film here and he volunteered of his own free will to
say that he would speak to Mr. Kennedy about it when he saw him.
We are still coating all of Turner & Dahnken's
releases and I presume with satisfaction, at least we hear
nothing to the oontrary. We received a check from them to day
and this puts me in mind to say thet the Edison Mfg. Co* owe
us about $800.00 for solution, since Aug. 9th. We hope to receive
this shortly.
Yours truly
National Whirproof nun Co.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Wasiiaule with "Water
Process and Machinery Patents Penoino
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
@raa©A<&©*oot. 3rd. 1910
J. F. soull
Assistant Gen. Mgr. Eaison Mfg. Co.
Orange, M. J,
My dear Mr. Soull: y ..
Replying Jib your 29th. of Sept, will say that
in as much as the 60 days will he up in less than a week there
seems to he no grounds for controvercy . At any rate I am glad
to inform you that the wait will not emharrasB ub. Our greatest
lack at present is work. We are doing practically nothing oiitside
of the Turner & Dahnken releases, and I certainly chafe under the
conditions. X want to stick to the licensed side hut my experience
with the G.F.Co.. releases here carries little encouragement to
do so. On the other hand I should have no trouble in contracting
to do all the films of the new American Co. here. Would this in
your opinion he adviseable? You will at once recognize the two
sides of the question on which I shall he glad to receive your
advice .
It seems to me- that our proposition would he
invaluable for Mr. Flintom in St. Louis, where he is having
such strong independent competition. I am prevented from
soliciting him through the believe that he would not act except
through the advice of his friend Mr. J. J. Kennedy. If Mr. K.
would not consent to our coating the Teatre Film Co. releases
for nothing in Chicago, would he advice his friend Mr. Flintom
to pay us $3.50 pr reel for St. Louis? I am sure that by water¬
proofing all of his releases and once a week washing his films
Mr. Flintom could not alone advertise the only clean service,
hut would have all that he claimed just as Turner & Dahnken are
successfully doing in San Francisco.
Your early reply will oblige
National Wmmmom iFta Co,
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with 'Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
Oot. 6th. 1910
J. P. Soull
Assistant Gen. Mgr. Edison Mfg. Co-
Orange, U. J.
Dear Sirs
We shall at Art in next week waterproofing the selig
and Essanay releases for Dieber of Indianapolis. This is an
experiment which if successful will result in Dieter having all
of his releases waterproofed. By the way, he reports very
favorably on your films, says the outlast all others and this
too without any washing. In fact, Dieber had never taken out
of the crate our washing machine sent him four months ago. We
unpacked it yesterday and he promised to wash his waterproofed
releases hereafter once a week. We also have advice from the
Pacific Coast to the effect that the Clune people are seriously
considering having all of their films waterproofed as burner
& DahnkSn 'are doing.
Yours truly
Mr. VI. A. Daniels,
National ,/aterproof Film Co. ,
4200 .Vest Adams Street,
Chicago, Ill.
Dear Slr:-
I duly received yours of October 22nd and 27th
und have kept them to turn them over in my mind.
First, taking up the suggestion in yours of
the 22nd ult., I frankly must say that I think the proposi¬
tion is a little too thin to put across. lie have nobody
around here, that I know of, who 1b in a position to make
such an investigation as this would call for , and I think
in any event the theory would be too much for the average
person to accept. In addition; of course, there is a second
edged sword, as you say, which would make, it an additional
reason for not taking it up.
■I- have carefully gore over your letter to Mr. ...
Kennedy and have the following criticisms to make in regard
to it. As stated above, I do not believe the point in reference
to the micro-organisms in the film has any weight. I doubt very
#2-;7. A. Daniels-
much the expediency of saying anything under the heading
of "Financial Conditions". As far as I know, nothing what¬
ever has ever been saia along these lines ana X think the
time to take it up wouia be after we could convince the
General Film Company that there is something in the proposi¬
tion from the standpoint of clean film. It looks' too much
like a stock- jobbing proposition, although in your subsequent
paragraph you disclaim such a purpose.
. I certainly think the last. paragraph, is highly
objectionable, ter. Kennedy, so far as I know, has no'aversion
to writing letters, although he has no serious objection to
neglecting to write. He can write a letter, however, quickly
enough when ho thinks it is called for, and in a ‘way I rather
think the paragraph is half way insulting.
I wish that you would write to' Turner, & Dahnken
and see whether or. not you can get a letter. from them which
we could use in our advertising of the Kinetogram, to Bhow
the benefit of waterproofing. • ’
I am interested In your statement, tjhat the Sales
Company is now putting out 1,000 films per week'. I do not
know what your basis for such a belief is. Only. thiB week
one of the members of the Sales Company tpld one of our people
and he had a purpose in saying it which would load him to. tell
the truth,' that as a matter of fact they are putting out about
600 rpelf! per week. I admit that even 600 reels' per week is
more than we. ought .to let them put out, but'! at the same time
there is. considerable difference between tjais and the 1,000
' #3-W. A. Daniels -
which you mention.
Please remember that my suggestions as to Mr.
Kennedy’s litter are merely suggestions and not by any
means final. If you do not believe there is any point to
them, I wish you would go ahead and write the letter as you
think best. Personally, I doubt very much whether such a
letter will do any good, but it might be well to try it
out, since you evidently think that such a thing is desirable.
Yours very truly, •
PC
Asst . SPHERAL KAHAGER.
[ATTACHMENT!
VUmomL Wmmmoow Rum C©>*
CAPITAL $ 100,000.
Moving Picture Films made "Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
02 WEST ADAMS S‘
Proposed .letter .
<&m©A@©9
Mr. J. J. Kennedy
General Film Co.
Ho. a 5th. Ave. HewYork, H. Y.
My dear Mr. Kennedy;
-••wflN .»ich i
considerable thought. if to taelUl. aotioa.
Exclwsivenese. >xolJ«eWoogis. the oc.rci.l »dv„t«g» of oohtrolliBs
Condition. .^^ition of the film business of to day
KBS*£?». 1SSris0»|0.”o?!atl”sulshl"6
claimsaofrt^°ofvf^‘nSmJ?aVe mcn7 8°°* points for emphatic
The paramount claim for waterproof ini? 1b that a fn™
0an ?e *»* cleaD and freefrom "rain" by '
wnBh?^Ct^ly washing it with soap and water. Without^this
washing the value of waterproofing is of course minimized.
washeIea^nfl5?o=Ure*f wash^| machine which automatically
eight minutes! * thousand feet of waterproof film in
‘ fluids^whlch should never be washed with volatile
s^Bij‘Si.ne;uh?of1ssrii^!1!e
The General Film Co. is in position to fores n
?^°““°.“;?sKoTso™Ks of ™*<,r*'ro°f «i»>.
mo„gersr^.r*ss s^vsst’ tr*4* °°"ia w
The proposition is well protected with patents.
’ IpsH s*- i
Interesting.
Superiority.
Paramount
claim.
Washing
by machinery.
[ATTACHMENT!
tonONAL IftrsRwtoor Rum Co.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
™ natented n. fpplica!io? °f waterproofing by first sizing
patented. the film is a patented process, and without infringement,
coating can not be applied which will not peel off. She
patented method of sizing not alone prevents the water¬
proofing from peeling from the emulBion.but keeps the
emulsion from lifting off the base of the film.
The Waterproofing is applied by a coating machine which
Coating machine spreads the solution all around the sprocket holes with-
patented. out clogging or going through to spot the back. Shis
i0 patented under claims which would make it
difficult, if not impossible, to coat a film without
infringement.
a She drying maohine takes the film from the ooater
D y ”f+“*£hine “L??*?!08 w face up (without stretch or shrinkage)
patent. untill it is dry and reeled. Shis machine is also
patented.
She Formulas. She component parts- of both sizing and waterproofing
mixtures are secrets difficult to determine. They are
the result of considerable cost in time, money and
experiments, even if known, they could not be practically
applied without infringing our patents.
Foreign patents. Patents have been allowed in France, Germany and
England as well as in this country.
Adventages. A waterproof film is one which can be washed with
soap and water and the adventages of occasionally washing
m unis manner are
a - It removes so called "rain" by washing the dirt
from out the scratches,
b - It keeps the film soft and pliable,
o - As a hygienio measure it is of great value, for no
film can travel around week after week without
**) becomming more or less infected with bacilli and
other micro-organisms. Bacilli have a recognized
-afinityyfor geletine; sunlight destroys them, and
l any light desturbs them, so that it is believed that
rniilions are forced by the light of a projecting
] into^thetauditoriumT°ln t0WardS
legislation,. I It is thought that in the interest of public health
^ municipal, or state enactments could more easly be obtained
> in favor of washable films than in favor ofMn-irfi.lu
t | films which, upon test, have been found to be inflalab^ 6
[ATTACHMENT]
t - 3 - f rCLCP„oKt KI
Kwsonal WampRooF Rut-Cfo.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and machinery Patents Pending
4300-4202 WEST ADA MS ST.
Other and
miscellaneous
advantages .
The
Chicago teat . .
hfX
Great benefit.
Arrangements.
Facilities.
0
d
f
e
Waterproofing dries as hard as celluloid and is
therefore less likely to scratch than is the un¬
protected geletine of an ordinary film.
A waterproof film cannot stick at a gate of a
projecting machine.
Ho small particles of the metallic developing Balts
oan come off between the folds of the reel to scratch
Ihe film rims smoother and the picture is therefore
steadier on the screen.
Ihe picture is brighter because a waterproofed film
being shiny on both sides admits more light.
The Joints are less liable to part, and if they do
part, a waterproofed film can be quickly spliced by
first scraping off the waterproofing with a sharp
knife, and then proceeding bb with any film.
The life of a film is commercially extended, runs
several months old, being as clean and clear as with
ordinary films after a few days.
For some unaccountable reason the ninty days
gratuitious waterproof test, arranged for the Dearborn
Street Departement of the General Film Co. here has
never been started. While we are still willing to carry¬
out our part of the arrangement, we believe it should
not now be neoessary; the reason being that Messrs.
Turner & Dahnken of San Francisco have for nearly three
months waterproofed all new releases, and have established
what we sought to prove through the Chioago trial i e.
that waterproofing is of great benefit to moving picture
films when intelligently handled.
The national Waterproof Film Co. is anxious to
arrange with the General Film Co. for waterproofing all
of their films, by which they (the G.F.Co.) can have the
exclusive benefits of the process, and thus effectually
differentiate/their goods from those of their competitors.
To fapiliate this work the Waterproof company is
ready to establish a plant in or convenient to HewYork
releases> a“a to enlarge the present Chioago
plant -to take care of all Western work. 6
[ATTACHMENT)
National Waterproof Run to.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
•The national Waterproof Film Co. is at present
I selJ sustaining. It has a paid in capital of
$65,000.00 with $35,000.00 unissued treasury stook.
This could he subscribed for by you or friends; In this
way not ■alone receiving the fuli benefit of exolusive
use, but getting 35$ of the net profits besides.
Our proposition however is in no way contingent
upon any inve stment upon your part .
/ While we know your aversion to writing letters
/ we earnestiy . request a reasonably prompt reply to this
f one- Meanwhile we remain with best wishes. '
Yours truly
N^OHAI ^.TERPROO^ FILM CO.
j r
HATfONAL WOTSRPROOF niM ©Q>.
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Penoino
©■canem®* iiov. ioth. 1910
Mr. George F . Scull
Assistant Gen. Mgr. Edison Mfg. Co*
Orange, II. J .
My dear Hr. Scull;
I am in receipt of your 7th. and wish to thank
you for your advico, part of which, at least, I shall follow, hut
I cannot bring myself to believe that the letter can do any harm,
even if it does no good. 1 don't think vie should sit quietly by,
with our proposition "hidden 'under' a bushel" .
The General Film Co. needs us, and it needs us badly
and immediately. xf they are not awake to their own interest, it
is our loyal duty to arose " them. If they are past awaking, .then
we should know it and be governed accordingly.
There will be nothing in my letter, which cannot he
substantiated except the bacilli idea, and I offer this only as a
suggestion. The gentleman, who first spoke to mo about it, is no
novice in film matters, as yon would admit, vie re I at liberty to
name him.
My information as to the Sales Co. output came from
the Independent side , so of course, was taken with some salt. I
passed it to you ns I got it, and you cun salt it to suit your¬
self.
I have already written Turner & Dahnken for the letter,
which you can publish.
Ideber has bought a washing machine for $100.00 and
continues paying us $5.00 pr.. reel for waterproofing his Selig and
Essanay releases. From all that we can hear, they are pleased
with the proposition, but have perhaps not been at it long
enough to give us a letter for publication.
Yours truly
MATI0HA1 WATEIiPKOOF. FILM CO.
Die. D.
• ~7Ury^Zrr j/:\S(UaJJL^
tyb SzLsso <r^ f’UsGL.
Jtiy Js-Ls^
sZ^LsV^s^ S—-3 UVLs&sLSs VXsilscbtJ
v_5* ^ iss^s^ots^sOstZtssAy Ay— /(v, Gus/Classo —
QJLJ Zt^.'i^asCA*— 7 '2xs^yL^y CL*A tJ^Lr-
Xst \r-t-Y~~f t^^J^CZe^o ~tF yULeuj ]r™-*~
J-Zt/cfi^L. s^ss~ f^ZZ cAL-J <SJL-a-j~r- <^cvC»x^-i_.
iltr Jo* -huyc ffccL fryr.&dJL,
ss*s^ tisssisss (t\a**ZC> &J%s *5^-rgy~7
h-c-C "i^jLi-MJL/ tv— J-fcZZZ y-&4~j As-^-j T^hf
i'uj^caJy - -
'SusoZds, j Iru^uucr as ts^ssj #-J
A S~&JOZr-^*s- ^r^Zs^s-s^j j s — *3 As V \s*y Q&^GstAt/y —
<fctJLL<r~r-j asszj yr^s cJUs-y cAamcs^
far fsujJZT -<^~ ^tri-J /rs £Z^ss~ sJCs
ArJcL. */nLs jrissCULj oJl^t^cZsAsClJ ^y
>^y,»VV^ /vLo/y , ^
Ms*^s *&-o - / o
National fcipi@©p lu to*
CAPITAL $100,000.
Moving Picture Films made Washable with Water
Process and Machinery Patents Pending
4200-4202 WEST ADAMS ST.
©m<ga©@® Dec. 20th. 1910
Isly dear Mr. Scull:
J • • As a postscript to the enclosed I must
confide in you that ir, order to Set the right umbrellas at
the right price for our friends in Orange we were compelled
to buy a dozen and a half, Bo having 15 over we hsve Bent
one to each of the licensed film manufacturers as well as
one to Mr. p. X.; : Waters of the a. V. Co.
handle marks:
The following is the complete list with
Mr. J.' a. Berst
"Be fortified 'gainst cloudy skies and
rainy films".
Mr. 3. s. Blackton
"When the sky is rainy take me out.
When the film is rainy go out yourself" ,
Mr. Frank I. Dyer
"I rejoice to be held upright over the upright
Mr. Thomas A. Edison
"Wo one knows who invented me,
Thomas A. Edison owneth me".
Mr . J . 3 . Kennedy
"May the covering of my ribs waterproof
the covering of yours".
Mr. George Kleihe
"Bain spo'ils good clothes
. And picture shows" .
Mr. S. long
"A leaky umbrella and a rainy film dampen the
feelingB".
Mr . 8. lubin
"An umbrella is at its best when it rains
a picture film is at it ’ b worst .
Mr. F . 3 , Marion
"Cloudy skies mean rain,
Rainy films mean ruin".:
Mr. H. N. Marvin
"Protect your films fr.om rain
and X v/ill protect you".
Mr. Gaston Melies
"To be serviceable, umbrellas and picture
films should be waterproof".
Mr. Wm. T . Rock
"As you appreciate waterproofing,
I'm your friend".
Mr. George F. Scull
"In rain, I reign above the most exalted".
Mr. William if . Selig
"A waterproof suggestion".
Mr. F. w. Singhi
"A rainy sky is always above you,
A rainy film- should be beneath you".
Mr. A. E. Smith
"To rainy films I do object.
From other rein I will protect".
Mr. George K. Spoor
"A good umbrella and a waterproof film,
fear no rain".
Mr. P. 1. Waters
"A General's order - "Keep your powder dry
and your films rainless".
Yours truly
NATIONAL WATERPROOF FILM CO.
-Pros •■fc-J
LEGAL DEPARTMENT RECORDS
MOTION PICTURES - INTERFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Aiken v. Moore and Armstrong (No. 27,476)
Platt v. Morris and Leveen v. Aiken v.
Moore and Armstrong (No. 27,477)
Oertly v. Aiken v. Power (No. 27, 479)
Oertly v. Aiken v. Schneider v. Platt (No. 27,480)
Currie v. Moore and Armstrong (No. 30,181)
This folder contains material relating to five Patent Office proceedings.
The interferences involve applications filed by Edward L. Aiken, John Oertly,
William Platt, Nicholas Power, Eberhard Schneider, and other parties, including
William B. Moore and Thomas H. Armstrong of Moore, Bond & Co., successor
to the Stereopticon and Film Exchange of Chicago. The documents pertain to
automatic shutters, also known as fire shields or protective gates, which were
attachments used in film projectors for fire safety. The selected items, which
cover the period 1906-1908, include correspondence, agreements, briefs,
depositions, and patent specifications. Also included are four undated, rough
drawings by Edison, which relate to other drawings by Schneider and Power.
The correspondence is primarily by Frank L. Dyer and Herbert H. Dyke of the
Legal Department and by other patent attorneys, including Bacon & Milans of
Washington, D.C., and Charles T. Brown of Chicago. There are also letters by
attorney Baxter Morton, vice president of the Nicholas Power Co. of New York.
Among the items not selected are twenty-five patents covering the years
1869-1908. The earlier patents relate to improvements in steam engine
governors; most of the later patents pertain to the use of automatic shutters in
projectors for fire safety. The inventors represented include one-time Edison
employee James H. White, as well as Leon Bories of San Francisco; August
and Louis Chronik and Nicholas Power of New York; Frank McMillan, John J.
Pink, and Alvah C. Roebuck of Chicago; and Albert D. Palmer of Pittsburgh.
Krohn, Fechheimer 8t Co.
MAKERS OF
women’s shoes.
Factory* General Offices,
"kroVinf'ech, cincinnat
Cincinnati. 0.u.s.a. April 81, 06
Mr. Frank L. Dyer,
Legal Dep't Edison Phonograph works, -
Orange, N.J,
Dear Sir:
Enclosed I beg to hand you petition and assignment of patent
which I have executed as agreed, and trust you win find same in order.
In going fiver the claims on the patent I notice you have same pretty
well covered, hut perhaps the following suggestions might not come amiss.
The shutter gate when closed allows an air space of 5/8 inch between
the shutter and film, hence same can withstand any heat to which it may
be subjected.
In the event of crank arm or any other part of the mechanism becom¬
ing disconnected, shutter would drop of its own volition.
The underwriters here demand a set screw on the crank to prevent sane
slipping from the shaft, end you win note that I have provided one * al¬
though in such event the shutter would close, as above mentioned.
In the event that an operator should attempt to use the machine with¬
out closing the shutter gate, and making the proper connections with crank
arm, you will notice the crank arm immediately becomes engaged with the
cogs, and the machine cannot be operated.
I merely mention these few points which you may not have brought out
quite as strong in your claims, as may be advisable. However,' this 1b
of course for you to decide, and should there be any further matters that
you wish given attention, by me, kindly let me know, and oblige,
6 Yours truly.
1
f
May 2, 1907
John Oertly, Esq. ,
o/o Krohn & Fechheimer,
9th & Sycamore Sts.,
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Dear Mr. Oertly: —
. Your application for kinetOBCope film
pr o tecting shutter haB been placed in interference with other
applioat ions in the Patent Office. One of these interferences
involves claims 17 and 18 of your application, which are as
follows:
"17. In a kinetosoope, the combination of a frame
having a light aperture, a main shaft, and film feeding' ^
mechanism, a gravity closure for the light aperture having.-^
an outwardly extending member, a member loose on the main b"’
shaft, and means connected with said last mamed member for
engaging the projecting member of the closure and opening
the closure, and holding the same open while the main shaft
is in operation, and releasing the closure when the main
shaft ceases to operate.
18. In a kenetoBCope, the combination of a frame
having a light aperture, a main shaft, a friotion olutoh
member thereon, a sleeve loose on said shaft, a orank handle
adapted to hold the Ioobo sleeve in oontaot with said olutoh
member, while the orank is being operated, whereby the.
sleeve is friotionally connected to the shaft, and a hinged
olosure normally covering the light aperture, operative
connections between the closure and said sleeve, whereby
the rotation of the sleeve opens the olosure and maintains,
it open while the orank handle is in operation, said sleeve
and its connections moving relative to the shaft and re¬
turning to normal position and allowing the closure to
cover the light aperture when the orank handle ceases to '
operate."
f
JO— 2— May 2, 1907
f
You will notice that there is perhaps some question
as to whether the terms used in these claims properly describe
your device, as for instance the term "main shaft" would have
to be construed to include the hub of the main drive wheel
and the sleeve thereon, and the closure or shutter is describ-
an
ed in claim 17 as having "outwardly extending member', 1 whereas ,
in your construction the outwardly extending member or ax
crank, is attached not directly to the shutter but to a rock
shaft. These claims were first made in another application
and were suggested by the Patent Office aB claims whioh could
be made in this application, and this fact accounts for the
inaccuracies of description to which I have referred.
However, these questions are not important at this
time, but probably will have to be considered later.
Another interference involves your claim 20, which
is as follows:
"20. In a picture projecting machine, the combina-
p, J-i tion with the film moving mechanism thereof, of a hinged
c,\v- door, the said door having a sight opening therein, a grav-
ity shutter normally cldsing said opening, film protecting
shields carried by the upper and lower edges of said door,
and means actuated by the above mentioned mechanism for
raising said shutter."
and the third interference involves your. claim 21:
"21. A shutter attachment for.kinetoscopes com¬
prising a vertically hinged gate frame, a rock shaft
jourhalled on said frame and carrying a shutter and a
crank . "
Although these last two claims were suggested by the
Patent Office to be made in your application, there is apparent¬
ly no question as to the accuracy of the description therein.
1907
I
JO— 3— May 2,
It will be necessary to file as soon as
'possible, in the Patent Office, what is known aB the pre¬
liminary statement, in each of these interferences. I -assume
that it is altogether likely that you invented the subject
matter of each of these four claims which are copied above,
at one and the same time, and if this be so you will need to
give me the facts for but a single statement, and I can pre¬
pare the others therefrom. Inasmuch as it will be necessary
for the statements, after they are completed, to be sent to
you for signature, and the time for filing them in the Patent
Office in quite short, I hope that you cen give me the facts
which .1 shall now proceed to specify, as soon aB possible,
but I wish to impress upon you the necessity of making accurate
statements in each case, and of making these dateB which you
will fix, as early as it is possible for you to prove, because
it iB a rule of the Patent Office that testimony of dates
earlier than those set out in the preliminary statement will
not be accepted in interference cases.
Please let me know then:
(1) When you first conceived the invention; that is,
when it first took form in your mind.
(2) 'When you first made drawings of the invention,
and if you made no drawings then so state.
(3) When you firBt explained the invention to
others, and to whom. ,
(4) When you first made a model showing such in¬
vention.
(5) When your invention
first embodied in a
I t
JO— 4- -May 2, 1907
(6) When and where such machine was first success¬
ful 3y operated.
The mere statement of these facts which are de¬
sired, is self explanatory, except that a word of explanation
as to 4 and 5 is desirable. Under 4 I have asked for the date
of making a model. By the word "model" 1b meant a construc¬
tion which cannot be relied upon as a reduction to practice of
the invention. As I understand it, the machine which we have
had here and which you made, is an actual full size machine
and is such a machine as may be relied upon for a reduction
to practice, and is not such a construction as is designated
in the Patent Office by the term "model". Please state
definitely when this machine which we have here, was first
made, and operated. If yotl made an earlier construction em¬
bodying the invention, but which was not an actual reduction
to practice of the invention, please tell me all about it, if
you have it or can get it, and the date of its making.
I wish again to call your attention to the fact
that there are three different interferences, and.it may be,
although it does not appear to me to be likely, that you made
the inventions which are placed in these three different
interferences, a.t different times. Please consider' this
matter carefully and tell me whether you think there Bhould be
any difference in the dates to be set up in the three pre¬
liminary statements which must be made.
Awaiting a reply which I trust will be received as
1
JO— 5— May 2,
1907.
early as Is consistent with accuracy, I am—
Yours very truly,
HHD/tol
! Edward L. Aiken
j; John Oortly
f VS '
Nicholas Power
l
; NICHOLAS POKE?. ; of New York, in the County of '.Tow York, and State
of Kew York, being duly sworn deposes and says that ho is the party
| to the interference declared by the Commissioner of Patents April 30,
!j 1907 botwoen hiB application for Letters Patent filed October 20,1906,
;! serial No1. 339,801, and an application of Edward L. Aiken, of Orange,
|; K. j., and an application of John Oertley, of Cincinnati, Ohio;
j; That he conceived the invention sot forth in the declaration of
jj interference on or about the 15th day of August , 1905;
f That ho firBt made drawings of the invention set forth in the
\ declaration of ihterferenoe <5n or about the lfifch day of August, 1905;
' That ho explained tho invention set forth in the declaration of
j; inter for once to others on or about the 15th day of August , 1905;
that ho nevor made a model of the invention, in the senso of a
j; atructuro inoapablo of practical use; that he first erabodioA his
ji invontion in a full sized operative structure on or before the loth
I day of September, 1905 and. that the said atructuro was successfully
[ operated in the City of Kew York, in the County of How York, and
jj State of Kew York as soon as it was complete.'- ;
!; That he has manufactured other structures for U3 0 and aale and
[ that more than one hundrod or the said structures are now in uso.
| Subscribed and sworn to boforo mo tho 17th day , of Hay, 1907.
IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OP PICE.
[ATTACHMENT!
This in vontion rolatos to fire shields for moving
picture films, and it hue for its object the provision of
a shield adapted to normally out off the rays from tho lamp'
of a moving picture apparatus which would pass through tho
projection aperture, together with mechanism for automat¬
ically moving the ohielft out of operative, •position' c.nd hold¬
ing it out: of operative position t as long as. tho film-feed¬
ing mechanism of the apparatus is' in operation, and restor¬
ing the shield to operative position instantly when tho op¬
eration of the film- feeding mechanism is stopped. A further
object of the invention is to provide o shield of the char¬
acter specified with shifting mechanism which will operate
positively and with perfect reliability, ao as to insure the
protective notion of the shield when the film is at reafet
without interfering with the passage of light through the
projection aperture when the film is in motion.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my
invention as applied to nn ordinary type of moving picture
apparatus, such portions of the moving picture apparatus be¬
ing shown scare necessary to render the notion of the shield
and its operating mechanism oloar.
In the drawings, in which corresponding parts are
designated hy similar characters of reference in the several
views:
Figure 1 is a top plan view on a small scale of a
moving picture apparatus equipped with an improved shield
and operating devices.
rigure 2 is a rear elevation on a larger scale of the
principal parts of the structure shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation on the scale
of Figure 1 of the structures shown in Figure 2.
Described in general terms, the present invention
[ATTACHMENT]
oompriaea a movable shield 1 Suitably mounted in relation to
the projection aperture 2 of the moving picture apparatus,
and mechanism mperated by the film-fdeding devioes to move
the shield out of operative position Then the film-feeding
mechanism is set in operation end to hold theshieldout of
operative position only so long as the film-feeding mechan¬
ism is operated and permit the shield to return to its norm¬
al or operative position on the instant that the operation
of the film-feeding moohanism is stopped.
In the particular embodiment of the invention illus¬
trated, the shield is suspended from a short rook shaft 3
journaled in suitable hearing lugs 4 on the back plate or
hack door 5 of the moving picture apparatus. The rock shaft
3 has extending from one end thereof at right angles thereto
ana in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the shleldr 1
an arm 6 which projects forward when the shield 1 is in norm¬
al, or vertical, position. Adjacent t& the arm 6 of the rook
shaft is a cam 7 carried by a lever 8 pivoted at 9 between
the top ana bottom parts of jo horizontally disposed bracket
10 mounted on the side of the moving picture apparatus ad¬
jacent to the main driving shaft 11, from which motion is
imparted by gearing 12 or otherwise to the film- engagingrde1--
vibes. She lever 8 is held normally in the position shown
in solid linos in Figure 1 by a spring 13, and mounted in
a lug 14 v/hioh profeots laterally from the lever 6 is a
short vertionl pin IB whioh carries a roller 16, whicji is
adapted to be engaged by a flange 17 provided on the inner
end of thesleeve' 18 which enoiroles the main driving shaft
11 and from whioh the orank 19, by whioh the apparatus is
operated, projects. The sleeve 18, has a oam slot 20 foimed
therein, as best shown in' Figure 1, and this slot extends
through the flange 17, to facilitate the fitting of tho
[ATTACHMENT]
sleeve upon the main driving shaft and the introduction of
8 pin SI, set in the shaft 11, into the slot 20. The sleeve
18 at the end of the oronk is secured on the shaft 11 by
means of a thumb-nut 22 whioh engages with the threaded sook-
et formed in the end of the shaft and whioh also seourea in
place a ratchet collar 23 fitted on the screw 22 and adapt¬
ed to engage with a notched end of the shaft 11, as indi¬
cated in Figure 2. This ratchet collar 23 carries c spring
2d which engages a pin or lug 25 extending laterally from
the arm of the crank. This spring, cooperating with the
ratchet oollsr 23, tends to held the crank in the position
shown in Figures 1 end 2, with the pin 21 near the inner
end of the slot 20. Whcnthe orank is turned in the direc¬
tion to feed the film through tho apparatxis > the force ex¬
erted on the orank first bends the spring 24, whioh permits
the orank to turn on the shaft 11, and this turning move-
18
ment of the orank oauses tho sleeve to slide along the shaft
toward the Journal 27 in whioh the shaft turns. The inward
movement of the sleeve 18 brings the. flange 17 in contact
with the roller 16 and forces the lever 8 from the position
shown in solid lines in Figure 1 to that shown in dotted
lines. The swinging of the lever to the extent indicated
in Figure 1 results in the turning of the rook shaft 3 through
an angle of ninety degrees, as indioated in Figure 3, through
the aotion of the earn 7 on the arm 6 of the lever. The
turning of the rpok shaft carries the shield 1 upward into
horizontal position, as shown in Figure 3, thus Acove ring the
projection apertusre 2 in the hack plate or door of the ap¬
paratus. As long as sufficient force 1b exerted on the orank
to maintain the feed of the film, the shield will be hold in
inoperative position, as shown in Figure 3, and the passage
of rays from the lamp through the projection aperture will
[ATTACHMENT]
not bo out off. As booh, hov/evetf: , as the pressure on the
handle 26 ia relaxed, the action of the spring 24 will onuse
a partial backward rotation of the crank about the shaft 11,
and the aotion of the pin 21 in the can slot 20 will reetore
the crank to the position shown in Figure 8. As the crank
slides outward on the shaft 11 the spring IS will restore
the lever 8 to its original position ana the shield 1 will
drop under the influence of gravity to its normal operative
position, thus cutting off the rays from the lamp and pre¬
venting the overheating of the moving picture film, whioh
would result if the film were not shielded.
While 1 have shown and described the spring 13 as
an element of the apparatus forming the presenting invention,
tho spring is not essential, ns the weight of the shield 1
tends to depress it and exert an upward pressure on the arm
6 of the rock shaft, which tends to foroe the cam 7 and the
lever 8 outward to normal position.
As the apparatus for controlling tho position of the
shield 1 is practically instantaneous in its operation, the
rays passing through the projection aperture are cut off so
quickly that ignition of the highly inflcmmabie celluloid
film ordinarily employed in moving picture machines from the
rays of the lamp when the film is stationary is absolutely
prevented. Consequently, conflagrations, such as have fre¬
quently been caused in the past by the ignition of the mov¬
ing picture film from the heat of the lamp, owing to the stop¬
page of the feed of the film, are avoided.
While 1 have described a single embodiment only of my
invention, it is to he understood that it is subject to var¬
ious modifications in the details of construction without in
any way departing from the spirit of the invention.
[ATTACHMENT!
Having Having thus described my invention, what X claim as
now and deBire to Beoure by letters patent is:
1. The combination with a moving picture apparatus hav¬
ing a projection aperture and iilm- feeding devices, of a shield
for said aperture normally intercepting the rays of light pass¬
ing from the lamp of tho apparatus to the projection aperture,
and means operative when- said film- feeding devices are in op¬
eration to hold i the shield out of its normal position, but
permitting tho return of the shield to normal position when j
the operation of said film-feeding devices ±s stopp'd, •
; ' j
2. The combination irfrth moving picture apparatus having i
a projection aperture and film-feeding devices, of a shield 1
!
normally covering the projection aperture, devices operated \
by the film- feeding mechanism for holding said shield in in-
long as
pperctive position ae said flim-feoding devices are in op¬
eration, and means operative whon said film- feeding devioes
oeaGe to operate to throw said shield-holding devices out of
operation end permit the return of the shield to normal posi¬
tion. / j
3. The combination with moving picture apparatus having
a projection aperture and film- feeding devioes comprising a I
driving shaft and a cam- controlled sleeve on said shaft through
whioh power is imparted to said shaft, of e shield for the
projection aperture whioh normally covers said projection ~
aperture, and devioes operated by said oam-oohtrolled sleeve
only during the operation of said filmefeeding devioes to hold
the shield out of normal or operative position and permitting
the return of the. shield to normal position aB soon as the
operation of tho film- feeding. devices' is stopped.
4. The combination with. moving pioture apparatus having
[ATTACHMENT]
a projection aperture and film- feeding devices, of a driv¬
ing shaft for said film- feeding devices, a crank mounted on
said driving shaft and slidable thereon, said croak toring^^
a cam slot therein, and shid shaft having a pin ’engaging
said cam slot, of devices operated by said sleeve when pow¬
er is applied to the crank to operate the film-feeding de¬
vices, whereby saia shield is forded into and kept in in¬
operative position as longas sold film-feeding devioes are
in operation hut is allowed to return to normal positon
as 3oon as the operation of said film-feeding deoioes is
stopped. .
XU Tire UNITED STATS
i: inTtayissoE ho. 27.430.
KELEilEAHY HTATiHEHT 0? EBEKKAIiD SCHNEIDER.
STATE OP Kr.7 YORK }
COUNTY OP UK?.' YORK )
EBERHAKD sen: IS I Dir. , of tho city, county raid. Stato of How
York, boin^ duly mvom, doposes and says that ho ia a party to tho
interference declared by tho Comiasionar of Patonto April 30, 1907,
between his application for Letters Patent filed Novembor 8, 1908,
Serial llo. 342,578, and applications of Y.'illiam Platt, Edward L. Aiken
and John Oortly; that he conceived tho invention act forth in the
declaration of interference on or about August 1, 1904; that ho
explained the invention to others on or about August 1, 1904; that he
made no drawings and no model of the said invention; that he reduced
the invention to practice about April 1, 1906 by making a full sized
working apparatus embodying the said invention, and that the same wos
successfully operated in the city of Hew York on or about the first day
of April, 1906; that tho apparatus has boon in continuous use Binco
about October 1, 1906, and that only a few sets of apparatus embodying
the invention have boon constructed and used.
Subscribed bind sworn to before me
this day of Hay, 1907.
[ATTACHMENT]
ThiB invention relates to safety devices for protect¬
ing moving picture films from fire, and it has for its objeot.
the provision of devices which will afford effective proteo- .
tion for a moving picture film between the supply reel and
the take-up reel or box.
In recent years various forms of magazines or fire- ,
proof boxes for the film reels of moving picture apparatus
have come into use, and these magazines or boxes afford ef- ,
feotive protection to all but that small portion of the mov¬
ing pioture film which lies between the upper film reel and
the lower film reel or receiving box. While the quantity
of film between the upper film reel and the lower reel on an
ordinary moving picture machine does not ordinarily amount to.
more than two or/fehreefeet, it is desirable to provide safety
devioes by which the ignition of this film may be positively
prevented, as even the smail flame that would be caused by
the burning of a few feet of film is often sufficient to
cause a serious stampede in a place of public entertainment
and, if the moving pioture apparatus should be accidentally
overturned, the ignition of this small amount of film might
be sufficient to cause a conflagration.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
specification, I haye illustrated one embodiment of- my inve -
tion in connection with a well known type of moving pictur
apparatus, but 14 is to be understood that changes in the
tails of construction as well as in the form and exact mode
of assembling the elements may be made without saorifio- ing
the advantages of the invention and without exceeding the
soope thereof.
In the drawings:
Figure 1. is a rear elevation of the apparatus provid¬
ed with the improved safety devioes for protecting the film. .
-1-
[ATTACHMENT]
Figure 3 is n view in side elevation of the structure
shown in Figure 1, with parts broken away for the sake of
clearness of illustration, and showing the ^addition of the
upper film magazine as well as tho portion of the casing for
the machine whioh is not shown in Figure 1.
Referring now to the drawings by the reference oharao- i
ters, 1 designates the base board of the moving picture appar¬
atus and 2 designates the. front board or face plat® in whioh j
is mounted the lens 3. Most of the meohenism of the moving !
picture apparatus is oerried by a rearwardly projecting frame j
4 mounted on the front board 2 in suitable relation to tho j
lens 3. Tho main driving shaft 5, shown in dotted lines in j
Figure 1, extende transversely of the frame 4 and oarries the
fly wheel 6 of the apparatus. Motion is imparted to the main
driving shaft from the crank 7 mounted on one side of the frame
ana to transmit power from the shaft 7 to the shaft 5 a train
of gearing, consisting of a gear 8, a pinion 9, a second gear
10 and a pinion 11, is employed. The elements of this train
of gearing are so proportioned that the shaft 5 is driven at
a much higher rate of speed than the orank 7 and rotation at
a similar rate of speed is imparted to a shaft 12 carried hy
on upward extension 4a of the frame 4. The shaft 12 is driv¬
en by a train of gearing’ comprising the gear 8 and pinion 9
together with another gear 13 and a pinion 14. The Bha.f.tl2
oarries sprockets 15 whioh engage with tho film F, which is
held in engagement with the sprockets by means of a pressure
roller 16 of ordinary construction. The sprockets 15 and
tho pressure roller 16 form the upper or slack-producing
film- feeding device^ by means of whioh the film is unreeled
and,
from the upper film reel, as shown in Figure 2, drawn out of
the magazine M, the bottom only of whioh is shown in the
drawing. The lower film-feeding devices are driven from
[ATTACHMENT]
the shaft 5 and oonqprise sprockets 16 mounted on a Bliaft 17
near the bottom of the frame 4. In passing down to the
sprookets 16 the film passes in front of a swinging door or
baok plate 18 oarried on hinges.- 19 at the side of the frame
4. This door 18 is provided with a projection aperture 20
through which light passeB from the lamp to the film and
thence to the lens 3.
The parts of the apparatus illustrated and herein- ■
before described are of common construction and form no
part of the present invention, but are shown inthe drawing
and have been described to assist in making dear the na¬
ture of the present invention, which will now be described.
The principal .and, in many oases, the only .souroe of
heat from which a moving picture film may become ignited is
tho fliarnp whioh forms a part of the apparatus. The intens¬
ity of the light required makes it neoessary to use a lamp
developing a high degree of heat, and the intensity of the
heat produoed by the lamp is so great that if the beams
from the lamp are allowed to pass through the projection ap¬
erture 20 and fall upon the stationary film for a few sec¬
onds, the inflammable film is almost oertain to beoome ig¬
nited. Furthermore, in the operation of moving picture ap¬
paratus, the maintenance of perfectly regular feed of the
film is not always possible, and it often happens that a
large loop of film will be formed between the upper feed¬
ing sprockets 16 and the upper film reel or magazine. A
loop of film so formed hangs down at the rear of the appar- .
atus, as it is highly flexible and not very resilient. A
loop of film formed in this way and hanging down at the rear
of the machine may, and often does, come into ttftpjsanea upon •
whioh very hot rays from the lamp fall. When this takes
place, if the film is stationary or praotioally stationary
[ATTACHMENT]
for a very d?ew moments, the Ignition of the film is sure to
follow. In like manner, the failure of the bottom reel or
receiving box to take all of the film as it passes from the
apparatus has sometimes resulted in the formation of an up¬
wardly extending loop of film within the range of the lamp,
where it Boon becomes ignited if allowed tot- rSfeain; approx¬
imately stationary forr a very few moments.
By means of the present invention, I have sought to
eliminate the sources of danger to the film from the lamp
by supplying guards which will. provent the formation of loops
of film within range of the heat of the lamp and by providing
the projection aperture with an automatically operative shield
or out-off shutter. by means of which the projection aperture
is immediately closed whemovor the operator ooases to turn
the oronk 7. She guards oonsist preferably of curved plates
21 and 22, respectively-, attached to the top and bottom of
the frame 24 on the rear surface, and preferably lined or
faced or\ their concave s\irfaoes with a layer of asbestos 23.
The upper guard plate 21 extends upward into contact with or
adjacent to the upper film raagasine, if one be employed.
The lower shield 23 extends downward adjacent to the- base
board 1, upon whioh the apparatus stands and through whioh
the film? is ordinarily passed.
The shield or out-off shutter for the projection ap¬
erture is most clearly shown in Figure 1 and is designated
24. ThiB shield or out-off shutter consist s preferably of
a small rectangular metallic plate with an arm 25 extending
from one oorner of the plate. The arm 25 iG mounted on a
short shaft 26 turning in a small bearing braoket 2? mounted
on the rear suffaoe of the door or baok plate 18. The shaft
26 is rotated from a bevel gear 28 on the main driving shaft
5 through a small bevel pinion 29 oarried by the shaft 26
-4-
[ATTACHMENT!
and held normally in meeh with the gear 28 hy means of a spring
30, which is host shown in Figure 2. The arm 25 of the shield
or out-off shutter i3 provided with a sort of hub 31 through
whioh the shaft 26 extends and in which the shaft is free to
turn. A oertain amount of friction between the hub 31 and
the shaft 26 is always produoed when the shaft is rotated, and,
to increase tho friction on the hub 31, it is mounted between
a pair of disks 32 secured on the shaft. Consequently, when
the small bevel pinion 29 is rotated toward the left , or ooun-
ter-olookwise, the frictional engagement of the hub 31 with
tho shaft and the disks between which the hub is mounted onus¬
es the shield or cut-off shutter to swing out of tho position
shown in full lines in Figure 1 to that shown in dotted lines,
in whioh it remains as long as the rotation of the small pin¬
ion 29 is maintained \by turning the orank 7. As soon/ how¬
ever, as the turning of the crank ceases, a small adjustable
counterweight 33, which is raised in the position shown in
dotted lines In Figure 1 while the apparatus is in operation,
becomes effective, overcomes the friction on the hub 31 and j
restores the shield or ont-off shxitter to the normal position '
shown in solid lines in Figure 1. The limitation of. the move¬
ments of the 8 hut ter to the two positions indicated in Figure
1 is effected by means of a stop 34 set in the door 25 and
cooperating with the sides of a notch 35 formed in the elon¬
gated oircular end of the arm 25 of the shield.
From tho foregoing description and the accompanying 1
drawings it will be readily seen that the portion of the mov¬
ing picture film between the two film reelB of the moving pio-
ture machine is completely protected from the heating rays of
the lamp exoept at the projection aperture when the apparat¬
us is in operation and the rapid travel of the film is, of
course, sufficient to proteot it from ignition. When the
[ATTACHMENT]
turning of the crank stops, even if for only a moment, the
slight friction between the shield or cut-off shutter and its
supporting shaft is quiokly overcome, allowing the cut-off
shutter to drop substantially instantaneously into the posi¬
tion shown in solid lines in Figure 1. The guard plates 21
and 28 are mere static structures and have no operation.;,
strictly so called. They serve, however, to shield the
portion of the film both below and above the apparatus and
are the most effdetive means for preventing the formation
of large and unwieldy loops of film either above or below
the film-feeding devices, in either of which positions it
would be exposed to great danger of ignition from the lamp.
[ATTACHMENT]
. Having thus describes my invention, v.-hat I claim
as now and desire to secm-e by letters patent is:
1. In moving pioture apparatus, the combination with a
shaft which is continuously rotated during the operation of
the apparatus, of a film shield loosely mounted on said
shuft and normally in position to protect the film from tho
rays of the projecting lamp, devices carried by the shaft
for holding the shield to the shaft with sufficient fric¬
tion to cause the shield to swing out of normal position
when tne shaft is turned rapidly but not sufficient to hold
said shield out of normal position when the rotation of the
shaft is stopped, and a stop to prevent the complete rota¬
tion of the shield, said stop being so placed as to permit
the shield to turn completely out of its normal pr film-pro¬
tecting position.
2. In moving picture apparatus, the combination with a
Bhaft which is continuously rotated during the operation of
the apparatus, of a film shield loosely mounted on said
shaft and normally in position to protect the moving picture
film IVom the rays of the projecting lamp, devices carried
by tho shaft for holding the shield with sufficient frio-
tion to oauso tho shield to swing out of normal or film-
protecting position when the shaft is rapidly rotated, a
stop to limit the swinging of the shield when the shaft is
rotated, and devices for overcoming the friction by which
the shioia is held to the' shaft and returning the shield
to normal position when the rotation of the shaft stops.
3. In moving pioture apparatus, the combination with
a shaft which is continuously rotated taring the operation
of the apparatus, a film shield loosely mounted on said
[ATTACHMENT]
shaft and normally in position to protect tho film from the
rays cff rhe pro,-; oo ting lomp, devices for holding the shield
to said shaft with sufficient friction to cause the shield
to swing out of normal position when the shaft is rapidly
rotated, a stop to limit the swinging movement of the 3hield,
and an ad jx'. stable weight oarried by tho shield and adapted
to overcome the friction by which the shield is held and to
restore the shield to normal position when the rotation of
the shaft stops.
4. In moving picture apparatus, the combination with a
main driving shaft which is continuously rotated during the
operation <5'f tlie apparatus, a driven shaft, gearing between
said driving shaft and said driven shaft, a film shield
normally in position to protect the moving picture film from
tlie rays of the projecting lamp, loosely mounted on said driv¬
en shaft and fractionally held thereon, a atop to prevent
complete rotation of said shield with said driven shaft, and
devices for restoring the shield to normal position when the
rotation of said driven shaft stops.
5. In moving picture apparatus, the combination with a
main driving shaft turning about a fired axis, a movable
back plate having a projection aperture through which rays
pass from the projecting lamp to the moving picture film,
s driven shaft carried by saia movable backplato, a driv¬
ing gear o.r pinion carried by said driving shaft, a gear or
pinion carried by said driven shaft ana adapted to engage
the gear or pinion on the driving shaft when the movable
baokplate is in normal position, a film shield loosely
mounted on said driven shaft and normally covering said pro¬
jection aperture, devioes for holding said film Shield on
said driven shaft with a small degree of friction sufficient
[ATTACHMENT]
to oause said shield to awing; out of normal position when
the driven snafu is rotated at Uhe ordinary rate of spped
impartod to it when the apparatus is in operation hut not
sufficient to hold the film shield out of normal position
when the driven shaft is not in rotation, and. a stop to ar¬
rest the movement of the film shield with the driven shaft
when tho film shield has swung entirely out of normal posi¬
tion.
G. In moving picture apparatus, the combination with a
main driving shaft turning ahont a fixed axis, a movable
bacirplate having a projection aperture, f. driven shaft mount¬
ed on said movable haokp: ate , u driving gear oarried by said
main driving shaft , a seoond gear carried hy on id driven
shaft, means for yioldahly pressing the gear on the driven
shaft into engagement with tho gear on the driving shaft
when the backplate is in normal position, a film shield
loosely mounted on said driven shaft and friotionally held
thereon with sufficient friction to cause the film shield
to swing out of normal position when the driven shaft is
rotated "iit the ordinary speed developed when the apparatus
is in operation but not sufficient to hold the shield out
of normal position when the rotation of the driven shaft
ooases, and a stop to prevent complete rotation of the film
shield with the driven shaft, said stop being so plaoed as
to permit the film shield to turn completely, put of its
normal position. /
7. In moving picture apparatus, the combination with
film feeding and guiding devioes, of guard plates extending /
rearwardly from the upper and lower portions of the film
feeding and guiding devioes, the upper guard plate being ex>
tended upwardly as well as rearwardly and the lower guard
plate being extended downwardly as well as rearwardly, and
[ATTACHMENT]
■both guard platen being adapted to prevent the formation of
loops of the moving picture film within the fia&d of the pro¬
jecting light. **■"'
-io-
[ATTACHMENT]
Room 3X2,
Application of E3RRHARP RCHBKIDKR,
SAFETY DEVICES FOE FEOTECTING MOVING PICTURE FILMS FROM FIRE.
Filet! Nov. 8, 1906,
Serial So. 342,578.
HON. COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS,
Sirs
In response to tho official latter of Necomber 8.
1906, it 1b desired, to amend tho above Tent it led caoe as
follows s
Page 2, line 16, ohnngo "shaft" to crank.
REMARKS. •
The Examiner is requested kindly 1;o apply the ref¬
erence characters 5 and 12 in Figure 2.
The dotted lines in Figure 2 represent portions' of?
the structure of an ordinary moving picture maohine whioh /
do not constitute part of tho present invention end hence
have not been described. V !
The guard plates 21 ana 22 do not "prevent the form¬
ation of loops,” hut do provont the formation of loops with- .
in the field of the nro.1eot.inf; lirfvt. of course, failure
of the film-feeding mechanism to work properly will oauap,
tho formation of loops of the film in spite of the presence •:
of tho guard plates 21 and 22, but the guard plates ao p^e- !
vent the formation of the loops within the field of the ^re¬
jecting light, ana hence prevent tho ignition of the film ,\\
whioh would inevitably follow if a loop of it should escfcertji \
into the fieia of the projecting light. ,|‘
It is hoped that with the above explanations the fea¬
tures of the invention not understood by the Examiner ..will ‘bo
made clear and that tho application will he found ready for j
[ATTACHMENT]
allowance .
Vary respectfully,
EBKRHAHD SCHrTK.t])]®,
By
Attorney.
Dow York, Dec. 15, 1906.
-v
[ATTACHMENT]
Room 312
Application of 5BKBHARD 8 GHWFIDER
FAFFIY DKTIC7. FOR PKOPSCTIBC XOVING ^ICTOBK FIRMS FROM FIKK
Filed Hov. 8, 1906
Serial JJo. 342,578,
HOi). C05EJIRSI0HEF. OF PAIKJTOS
Sir:
In response to the official letter of December 31,
1906 and the official letter of February 15, 1907, it is
desired to amend the above- entitled application as follows:
Change Claim 7 to rend as follows:
7. In moving picture app&iintus, the combination
with film-fending and guiding devices, of guard plates for
. tho .film which extend respectively upwardly and renrward-
ly and downwardly and roarwardly from the film- feeding and
guiding devices nnd prevent the exposure of the film to
the projecting light except at the projecting aperture.
Add the 1 1 owing claims: •
fl. In a picture-projecting maohine , the combina¬
tion With the film-moving mechanism thereof, of a hinged
door, the said door having ning therein, a gravP
ity shutter normally closing said 3fioning, film-proto ot-
ing shields carried byyt ho upper and lower. edges of said
door, and means actuated by the above-mentioned mechanism
for raising said shutter.
9. In a moving picture maohine, the combination
with mechanism for moving the film, of a door protecting
the said film, said door having an oponing formed therein,
a shutter normally closing said 'd®pxting, and moans actu¬
ated by tho film-moving mechanism for operating said dhuf-
[ATTACHMENT]
• Vv : V
HEHARKS.
Claim 7 an altered ^ppoars to avoid tho objootiono
noted in the official letter of December Slat and tho
statement in the lost paragraph of tho spooif ioation pre¬
ceding tho aluimB nppoara to bo correct. ?he guard plates
do present tho formation of largo and unwieldy loopB of
film, as stated.
Rospoot fully submitted,
RIJRRHAKD SCHNEIDER,
Kev? York,
18, 1907.
Attorney.
-8-
[ATTACHMENT!
Room Ho. 312
Application of EBERH/HD SCHKEIHBH
SAFEST 3EVICT.S FOR PECTROTIiiC JiOVI® PICTURE FIJI’S FliOH FIRE
Filed Hoy. 6, 1906
Serial ITo. 342,578
Honorablo Commissioner. of Fat on 1 8 ,
Washington, 3. C.
Oir:-
In response to the Official Letter of April 5, 1907,
it is dosirod to a'ncnd the above-entitled application, as follows;
Cancel claim 9.
R SHARKS .
Claim 9 is cancelled as anticipated not only by the catalogue
of "She Chas. Urban Trading Company", cited, hut also by the catalogue
of L. Gawnont a Co., 25 Cecil Court, Charing Cross Road, London,
roforenco boing had especially to the illustrations on page 4 and the
description of "automatic out-off" on page 5. This catalogue was
issued in 1902. It is thought, moreover, that the cancelled claim
is fully anticipated by British patent to Hoy 110,047, of 1898, a3 the
projection aperture shown in dotted linos in Figures 1, 4, 6 and 7
of the said patent is almost certainly formed in a door, and, whether
this aperture is formed in a door or not, it is the full equivalent
of an aperture formed in a door.
Respectfully submitted,
Eberhard Cohnoider,
By.
Hew 'fork, April 11, 1907.
Attorney.
June 5, 1907
Baxter Morton, Esq.,
43 Broadway, Hew Yoric, N.Y.
Dear Sir: —
I am enclosing you copies of preliminary state¬
ments of John Oertly and Edward I. Aiken, in Interferences
Ho. 27, 479 and Ho. 27, 480, as requested in your letter of
June 4th, which I received today. I thank you for the
copies of the files and the preliminary statements of Platt
and Schneider,
In accordance with our telephone conversation
this morning, I shall expect to receive from you copies
of the Office letters in the applications of your clients,'
Messrs. Platt and Schneider.
HHD/itJL
Very truly yours,
enclosures
[ATTACHMENT]
d ’ §
IN THE TOUTED STATES PATENT OPFICE.
0 e r t I y )
vs. )
Aiken )
vs . :
)
Schneider:
vs. )
)
Platt :
Interference "ln
No. 27,480
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OP JOHN OERTLY
State of Ohio
County of Hamilton)
JOHN OERTLY, of Cincinnati, in the
County of Hamilton, and State of Ohio, being duly sworn,
doth depose and say:
That he is a party to the Interference declared
by the Commissioner of Patents on April 30, 1907, between
his application for Letters Patent filed April 24, 1906,
serial No. 313, 385, for KINETOSCOPES, an application of
Edward L. Aiken for KINETOSCOPES, an application of Eber-
hard Schneider for SAPETY DEVICE POR PROTECTING MOVING
PICTURE PILMS PR Oil PIRE, and an application of William
Platt, for ATTACHMENTS POR KINETOSCOPES, STEREOPTICONS AND
MOTION PICTURE MACHINES.
Conception:
That he conceived the invention
defined by the Interference issue, in the
early part of December ,1905 and before— —December 15,19o5
Drawing :
That he first made a drawing of the
invention defined by the Interference issue
on or about - - — December 25,1905
Disclosure:
That he first disol os ed the in¬
vention to others on or about - December 25, 190)
[ATTACHMENT]
® ' I
Model:
That he made mo model of the inven¬
tion, as distinguished from a complete working
machine--- - - - - - None
Working Machine:
fEat he made two complete
working devices which he attached to an
Edison kinetoscope, as disclosed in his
said application above identified, and
thereby reduced the invention of the inter¬
ference issue to practice, during the week
ending - - - - - Feb. 9, 19 06
Test of Machine:
That an Edison Kinetoscope
as so equipped, was successfully operated
by him at Cincinnati, in the County of
Hamilton and State of Ohio, on or about — Eeb.10,1906
and thereafter an Edison kinetoscope
as so equipped was successfully operated
by himself and others, at Orange, New
Jersey, during the month of- - - February, 19C
Use and Sale:
That he has since continued to
use Edison Kinetosoopes equipped with
the said device, and he is informed and be¬
lieves that machines embodying the inven¬
tion of the Interference issue have been
manufactured and used to the number of
100 and upwards .
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this day of 1907.
[ATTACHMENT]
I
Q^">
04‘*
IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OPFICB.
Aiken
vs.
0 e r t 1 y
vs .
Power
Interference "D"
No. 27,479
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OP EDWARD L. AIKEN.
State of New Jersey)
)ss:
County of Essex )
EDWARD L. AIKEN, of Orange, in the
County of Essex and State of New Jersey, feeing duly sworn,
doth depose and say:
That he is a party to the. Interference declared
fey the Commissioner of Patents on April 30, 1907, "between
his application for Letters Patent filed July 14th, 1906,
serial No. 326, 275, for KINETOSCOPES, and an application of
John Oertly for KINETOSCOPES, and an "application of
Nicholas Power, for EIRE SHIELDS POR MOVING PICTURE PILMS.
Conception;
That he conceived the invention
set forth in the declaration of interference
in the month of - April, 1906 '
Disclosure: first
That he/dlsolosed the invention
to others in the month of - - April, 1906
Model:. v
That he made no model of the Y
invention, as distinguiBhedffram a com¬
plete working device - - - None
Machine :
That he made a complete working
device which was a reduction to praotioe of
the invention defined fey the interference
issue, and which he attached to an Edison
.KihetoBCope, as disclosed in his said ap-
1.
1
[ATTACHMENT]
I
Machine (continued)
plication above identified, during the
month of - - - -
Test of Maohine:
Wiat an Edison kinetoscope
equipped with the said device was first suc¬
cessfully operated in the Town of West Orange,
in the County of Essex, State of Hew Jersey,
and in the City of Hew York,N.Y. , during
the month of - - - — -
Drawing;
That a drawing was made under
his direction, from the said machine, on
Wse:
That ho and others have Binoe used
Edison kinetoscopes equipped with said device
so made during the month of May, 1906, hut
that the invention defined by the Interference
issue has not been commercially used except
as hereinbefore set forth.
Subscribed add sworn to before me
this day of 1907.
May, 1906
May, 1906
June 12,1906
.Tune 14, 1907.
Messrs. Bacon & Milana,
Mo Gill Building,
Washington, B.O.
Gentlemen
The following letter is 'being written in Now York and my jreoordo
are not accessible, and so you will have to overlook any little inaooura-
oiea that may creep in. I think, however, that with the limited facts
at my disposal, I oan make it dear what I want.
1 am thinking of moving to dissolve the interference in which
the moving picture automatic shutter application of Aiken is involved
with Moore and Armstrong and one other party, Morris and Leveon, X think.
This is ^second interference o'f^eries in which you furnished me the
preliminary statements a few days ago, and the number ondu with 77, j
think it is 37,477. . .
• J 'VmiJW
The Urfean catalogue whinh^AeoMo^. in the Aikon application
shows a construction whioli is exactly that of the claim in the tntor-
ferenoe if the word* "centrifugal" were omitted before "means" near tho -
end of the claim, I think in the next to tho last line. - The b la inu| calif
for centrifugal means for operating a shutter which is upon the pivoted '
door, ‘centrifugal means for operating the shutter are well known, and
shown in the patents which I -have, and the machine of the Urban catalogue
shows that- the shutter on the door is old. There does not appear to he •
very muoh invention thorefor&in operating a shutter on the door by oentrl-
fugal means as is called for in the claim. The Ur%n shutter is operated
B. &. M. , #2. June 14, 190?.
By a pump, and I think that if X define-that eome patents oould Bo found
, which will show that a pump as an activating devloe is a well-known
equivalent of a centrifugally operating meohanioal means for the same
purpose, then I would Be in a position to^dissolve with a one prospect'
of success. . ^
I think you oan find in the Solans of QSngine governed, patents
which will show that such devices are -the old and well-known equivalent .
of one another. Some time ago I reraemBer taking out a .patent for a man
in Illinois which showed a device for governing an engine which com¬
prised a pump actuated By the engine, a cylinder into which the pump
operated to force a fluid, and a piston in the cylinder which rose or
fell as more or less fluid was forced into the cylinder, and which piston
in its rise and fall operated to exclude and eSt^the steam to the '
engine. . . ' ;
I wish you would have a search made on this point and send me
the patents which you find at once. Please also, at the same time, let me
know when my time for making motions, snoh as raotionn to dissolve: in
this interference, will. expire.
Very truly yours,
June 18, 1907
Charier Turner Brown,
Unity Building, Chioago, ill.
Dear Sir: —
Of the several interferences which have recently
heen deolared relating to moving picture, projecting machines,
and in which an application of my client, Aiken, and one of
your clients, Messrs. Moore & Armstrong, are involved, I am
particularly interested in the first interference Ho. 27, 479.
There are other interferences with other parties, hut X regard
the issues as either unpatentable, or I consider that my
clients will prevail. I am frank to say, however, that in
interference Ho. 27, 476, provided Messrs. Moore and Armstrong
can substantiate their preliminary statement, they will undoubt¬
ed succeed. Under these circumstances it to uld be necessary,
therefore, for us to ohange our construction, whioh X understand
can readily be done, so as to avoid the claim, or to purchase
the IJeb'fa & Armstrong oase.
I regard the application of Moore & Armstrong as of
value only because of the faot that the claim of the issue
covers the specific construction adopted by my clients, but I
do not oonsider.the matter as of vital or serious importance.
CTB — 2 --June 18, 1907
I would Be glad to have you put the matter Before your clients
and find if they would Be disposed to sell their application
for a reasonable figure, say in the neighborhood !of five
hundred dollars, or if some other arrangement could Be made,
possibly, if they are manufacturers of moving picture appara¬
tus, it could Be arranged so that they could have a license
under the patent, or if they wish to retain control of the
patent, arrangements might Be made for granting a license to
us. At any rate I wish you v/ould give this matter your
early attention, so that I may Be guided as to the future.
In the seflond interference Ho. 87, 477, I propose in the
course of a few days to send you a motion for dissolution ,
as ft regard the issue as plainly unpatentable.
Very truly yours,
hfcd/mji
BACON & MUjANS,
ATTORNEYS AND SOLICITORS IN PATENT CAUSES,
NO. 908 G STREET, NORTHWEST.
(ROOMS, 41 0-41 B.)
.J.une...l8r-1907.,
Prank L. Dyer, Esq.,
Orange, IT, J.
Dear Sir:-
Ref erring to the search which you requested
us to make with reference to the interference in which the
automatic kinetescope shutter application of Aiken is
involved, we would state that we have examined the classes
of steam engine governors and have found that it is exceeding¬
ly common in that art to employ in lieu of the ordinary
centrifugally operated governor, a.n air pump vhich is driven
hy the engine and a device controlled hy said air pump for
regulating the admission of steam to the engine, in fact,
there is a very large class devoted entirely to pressure
operated governors. We have selected a number of patents
iHustrating gpvernors of this type and are sending copies
of these patents herewith. These' patents ar
selected a number of patents illustrating the well known form
of centrifugally operated speed governors which/form the same
function as the fluid operated governors disclosed in the
patents above referred to. These patents, are Ros. 177A307 •
.412/59;
120, 982, j d08,1627\ reissue 10 , 559 , ^^412 ,^2 , §48 , Topies^fcV
J ^ - ■ ’
*1
BACON & MIX, AN 8.
Sheet No . 2 . Date
of all of which are sent you herewith.
We have practically confined our search to the
various classes of engine governors as we understood that
you merely desired us to find in some art some illustra¬
tions showing a pump as an actuating device to he the equivalent
of centr ifugally operating mechanical means far the same
purpose^ and as the patents referred to herein seem to show
this idea, we have thought it best to report without pro¬
ceeding any further with the search. We could, of course
make a much more extensive search should you deem it necessary.
While as stated above, we have practically limited our
search to the class of steam engine governors, we had
occasionto examine the file of several kinetescope patents
and found referred to therein two British patents both of
which disclose centrifugally operated means for normally holding
a kinetescope shutter in an open position during the traveling
movement of the film, namely 10,047 of 1898 and 22,423 of
1902, and while you are doubtless familiar with both of these
patents, we have thought it well to refer to them in the
event that you may not know of them.
Very truly yours,
Die. H--K.
June 18, 1907
Messrs . Bacon & Milans,
908 0- Street, Washington, U.C.
Gentlemen: ~
A few days ago Jgheri X wrote you about making
the searoh in the moving picture interference, X assumed that
th8 Urban door was hinged to the main frame. But on closer
examination of the drav/ing in the Urban catalogue, it appears
to be very doubtful whether the door iB hinged.
I would like to have a patent oip'ao early a
date as possible to use in making the motion, which shows
that the hinged doors are old. Please run through thd pro¬
jecting machine patents and pick me out a few which show
this feature.
Very truly yours,
HHD/MiTIj
Orange, N. J.
Dear Sir;
Replying to your favor of the 18th inst. in re, interfer¬
ences No. 27,479, qnd 27,476s Mess. Moore & Armstrong, vt>.
others*
I have had interviews with my clients and am authorized.
to say;
Messrs Moore and Armstrong have made use of the device by
attaching it to an Edison moving picture machine, when requested
by users, of the machine.
They are not making a picture moving machine; but would
not like to so part fcLth the invention as to prevent them from
connecting it to a picture moving machine of their own manu-
facture* in case they should ever decide to make one.
A shop license would cover all. they would require.
They will sell the application for $700.00 with a shop lie-
ense* a® above outlined, to be given back to them.
If the application is purchased, by your client they will pro¬
duce the testimony to support their preliminary statement in eith¬
er or both of the case®, on your request. 1 assutfl^the testi¬
mony is more than sufficient.
Please advise me or your, decision.
Charles Turner Brown, Esq.,
79 Dearborn Street,
Chicago, Ill,
Dear Sir:-
Youru of the 22nd ult. was duly rocoivod in
reference to the Moore & Armstrong matter. The price asked
for the application is, in my opinion, too high in view of
the circumstances. The buoinoss 1b not vory important any
way, and the invention 6'f' of a detail character. Furthermore,
the prior art is sufficiently comprehensive to moke it poss¬
ible for any one to use a practicable device for the purpose,
so that it would be out of the question to attempt to control
or monopolise the business. Ab I wrote you, the only value
to my clients of the Moore & Armstrong application, assuming
a termination of the interference in your clients' favor and
the grant of the patent to them, would be to do away with the
expenso of changing our apparatus. Under these circumstances,
a license or shop-right would be enough for our purpose. I
will be obliged if you will toko up thiB matter with your
olients and ascertain whether they would be willing to grant
us a lioonoo, and if so, vhat their very lowest figure would
ho. If this were done, they would still have the patent,
could manufacture the device themselves, and could license
othors. In addition to this, I wish you would lot me know
the very lowest figure at which they would sell the applica¬
tion, reserving a shop-right to themselves.
Yours very truly,
pld/abk.
IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
Platt
vs.
Morris, et al
vs.
Aiken
vs.
Moore, et al
)
)
j
I
)
|
i
Interference No. 27, 477 HB"
Before the Honorable Primary Examiner
In Room No. 312.
AIKEN'S BRIEF ON MOTION FOR DISSOLUTION.
This is a motion for dissolution of the above
entitled interference, and we propose to show that in
order to include siibject-matter common to eaoh of the
several applications involved, tho issue has been made
too broad to be patentable over the prior art. The
claim of the issue is as follows:
" In a kinet.osoope, the combination of a main
frame provided with means for imparting a pro¬
gressive movement to a film, an auxiliary frame
or gate hinged thereto, a movable shutter car¬
ried by said gate and adapted to out off the pro¬
jecting light from the film, and centrifugal
meanB for operating said shutter, substantially
as set forth."
- The principal reference relied on is the catalogue
of the CharleB Urban Trading Company, Ltd. , 48 Rupert St.,
London, England, of April 1906, and the affidavits of
William H. Mack and Orville T. Weiser relating to the
aald catalogue and on file in the United Staten Patent
Office. That thia catalogue and the aaid affidavita
constitute a valid anticipating reference for anything
disolosed therein has already been admitted by eaoh of
the portion to this Interference, with the exception of
Aiken, as eaoh such party has oonoeled a claim from the
respective application involved in this interference on
rejection upon the said catalogue and affidavits. Aa to
the aotual prior use in this oouri try of the anticipating
structure shown in the catalogue, the affidavit of Mack
states: ..
1 In the year 1902 X used at Koith's Bijou
Theatre in Philadelphia, an Urban life motion
i! ploture projecting machine shovm in the catalogue
I! entitled on the fly leaf 'Urban Bioscope and
Accessories'".
The Urban projecting machine on page 29 of the
catalogue referred to, is shovm in two views, different
reference characters being unfortunately used to desig¬
nate the parts of the maohino in these views, so that con¬
fusion would be likely to result if it were attempted to
designate the parts by reference characters. It may be
stated generally, however, that this maofeine comprises
a main frame and means for imparting a progressive move¬
ment to the film. A portion of the m&in frame is pro¬
vided with an aperture for the passage of the projeoting
light, and with guides by which the film is guided as it
moves. over the said aperture. Cooperating with this
portion of the maid frame is a ioVable door which is pro¬
vided with bow-springB to control the movement of the
film. This door is likewise provided with an aperture
corresponding to that in the main plate, and upon this
gate or door is a movable gravity shutter which normally
closes the opening in the door, hut which may he raised
to uncover the said opening by means of a piston working
in a cylinder upon the door, into which cylinder air is
foroed under pressure from a Bmall piston pump situated
upon the machine frame and actuated from the film moving
mechanism, there being a flexible connecting tube between
the said pump and cylinder.
It is evident that this disclosure falls short
of showing the construction set forth in the claim of the
issue in tv/o particulars, the first of which is that it
is not clear that the door or gate is hinged to the main
frame. But this is immaterial both because no more than
an ordinary mechanical expedient would be involved in
hinging the door, and because it has for a long time been
common to hinge precisely Bimilar doors upon the main
frame of moving picture projecting apparatus, as is shown,
for example by the patent to Me Millan, at al, No. 628, 413,
granted July 4, 1899 and the patent to Chronik, et al, No.
627,962, granted June 27, 1899. The other difference
between the disclosure of the catalogue and af fidavits and
that of the claim is that, while the Urban shutter is ac¬
tuated by means of a pump, in the construction called for
in the claim of the iBBue a "centrifugal means" for ac¬
tuating the shutter is set forth.
Obviously in any art where an element is to be
moved or actuated by ohanges in speed of a driving part,
the commonest expedient known to mechanics is a centri¬
fugal device, as for example, the governors of steam en¬
gines, sparking devices for gas engines, and safety ap¬
paratus for elevators and kindred mechanisms. In pro¬
viding a special device for this purpose, the Urban ma¬
chine adopta a less usual expedient but nevertheless one
3.
I that has long hosn recognised as a well-known suhotitute
for a centrifugal devioe.
The patenta to Koy, et al, No. 10047, May 2, 1898
(English); English patent Ho. 22423 of 1902, and the
French patent to Richard, No. 326,568, dated November 21,
1902, each show a centrifugal means for actuating tho film
protecting shutter of a projecting machine.
How disregarding the hinge on the door, which is
immaterial, it is plain that the claim of the ieoue would
he readable upon the Urban structure, if the word
"centrifugal" before » means for operating the shutter"
were omitted. The claim does not differentiate from
the Urban structure except by the insertion of the word
"centrifugal" before the word "moonB". There is no
statement of any change of structure in order to ubb the
centrifugal means rather than other means. There ie no
statement that the centrifugal means is located on the
door along with the shutter, or that the centrifugal
actuating means is located on the frame and connected
v/ith the door in such a way that the Bhutter may be act-
uatod and the door may still be opened. The only state¬
ment made in the claim is that the shutter is on tho door
and that it is actuated by centrifugal means. The olaim,
therefore, covers in the broadest possible form the sub¬
stitution of the centrifugal actuating means, shown in the
English or French patents cited, for the pump of Urban.
The pump and centrifugal operating moans were eaoh
old in this particular art and for the some purpose. They
were, therefore, the meohanioal equivalents of one another.
Anybody familiar with both tho Urban camera and the
English and French patents referred to would know that
4.
for actuating tho film protecting shutter of a moving
picture machine, he might use either oentrifugal meanB,
or a pump. Anyone starting out to design a film pro¬
tecting oh litter must have known that he oould ubo either
a pump for actuating the shutter or a centrifugal means,
such as a oentrifugal governor, since an inventor is con¬
clusively presumed to have known all about the prior art,
and for this reason whon a olaim is presented whioh ooverB
nothing more than the substitution of a centrifugal means
for the pump, such a olaim oould not he patentable.
Again, not only is it a well known fact in this
art that oentrifugal operating means and pumps are me-
ohanioal equivalents of one another, but it is also true
in other arts, as for example in engine governors. Every¬
one is familiar with the ordinary dentrifugal engine
governor, but there is a wholo sub-class of engine gov¬
ernors in the Patent Office in whioh the valve for the
admission or exclusion of compressed fluid to the ongine
is controlled hy a pump, whioh in turn is operated by
the engine. The following patents have been placed in
this record to show the equivalence of pumps and centri¬
fugal means: Eriokson, No. 592, 529, Ootobor 26, 1897;
Yount, Ho. 206 ,849, August 6, 1878; Gray, Ho. 592, 248,
October 26,1897; Hash, No. 192, 273, June 19,1877, and
Deefrees, Ho. 97, 056, Hovember 23, 1869.
Accordingly a olaim whose only possible novelty
lies in tho broadly stated substitution of a oentrifugal
moans for a pump, cannot be patentable, as pumps and
centrifugal means are well known mechanical equivalents,
both in the projecting machine art and generally.
5.
Tho inventions in the applications involved in
the present interference lie in the particular means whioh
each of tho interferantB has designed for operating tho
shuttei* from the centrifugal means-, and not in the mere
fact that centrifugal means are usod instead of a pump
or other means. Tho claim of the issue is, therefore,
too broad.
Take now a slightly different point of view. No
one would for a moment oontend that a piston pump and the
well-known centrifugal pump are other than mechanical
equivalents, except perhaps in certain specific relations
which would have to he specifically set out in order to
he patentable. Suppose someone should substitute a
centrifugal pump such as that shown by Deefrees in Patent
No. 97,056 alroady referred to, for the pump of Urban.
It is to be noted that Deefrees pump is UBed for the same
purpose as tho Urban pump: to foroe air into a cylinder,
behind the piston 3?, and thereby move the piston rod long¬
itudinally to open and close a valve. Then suppose the
person making this change wore to make an application for
a patent and to present to the Patont Offioe for allowance
the exact claim of this interference issue; such a claim
would olearly describe his structure, since a centrifugal
pump is certainly ono form of "centrifugal means". Surely
the Examiner would hold that it would be immaterial, broad¬
ly, what Bort of pump were used, and that the claim based
on that structure would be unpatentable in view of the
Urban catalogue. In view of this fact a olaim for a
centrifugal moans, which is broader than a olaim for a
centrifugal pump, would certainly also bo unpatentable.
6.
- RSBUHS
The claim of the issue is too broad to be patent-
a'olo .
The invention lies in the features of construction
of the different intorferants and not in the broad fact
that they use a centrifugal means instead of a pump or
other means.
Centrifugally operating devices and pumps are well-
known mechanical equivalents in general, aB is shown in
the art of steam engine governors, and it is entirely a
matter of choice for the mechanic which he shall ubo.
Centrifugal means for actuating the film protect¬
ing shutter of a kinetoscope are old, and also other
means, as for example, a pur®, and it requires no inven¬
tion, broadly, as it is claimed here, to substitute the
one means for the other.
There could not possibly he any invention in sub¬
stituting an ordinary centrifugal pump for a piston pump,
and the claim bf the issue is auffidiently broad to cover
the substitution of a centrifugal pump for the piston
pump of Urban.
Respectfully submitted,
Attorney for Aiken.
Orange, llew Jersey
July 1907.
<1
i
(t
BAXTER MORTON
4-2 BROADWAY
NEWYORK
August 22, 1907.
Frank L. Dyer, Esq. ,
Orange, N. J.
Dear Sirs-
EEt INTERFERENCE - PLATT VS. SCHNEIDER VS.
A IKES VS. OERTLY.
As the time allotted Platt for taking his proofs in ohief
in the above-entitled interference has almost expired, I take it
that there , is very little likelihood that- any proofs will be taken
on Platt's behalf. Ely olient Sohneider being next in order of
assignments for talcing testimony, I have taken up the case for
consideration and have come to the conclusion that the issue as
defined is oertainly not worth a oontest. The reasons for this
conclusion aret (1) because the issue is a bald'.- aggregation, the
film-protecting shields carried by the upper and lower edges of the
door being wholly independent in operation of the gravity shutter
whioh is also carried by the door; (2) beoause the claim would be
of no value, even if valid, beoause it would be avoided by simply
doing avmy with the shield at one end of the door, which, as you
probably know, is the comaon practice; and (3) because the claim
is anticipated in substance by the Warwiok Trading Company's catalogue
in the possession of the Patent Office, taken together with patent
to Nicholas Power, No ^*4., /YSJuly 17, 1906, which shows thB lower
portion of the door extended downward to form a shield.
In view of the above-recited situation, I propose that
in the event of Platt's taking no testimony, and thereby being
out of the contest, -we agree mutually to canoel this claim on
behalf of our respective clients. If you will do this, or agree
to an interchange of licenses, I think we can easily settle the
entire interference to mutual advantage. In this connection
I would say that, assuming that your dates as set up in your
preliminary statements can bo proved, I believe that ny clients
would probably prevail in any interferences involving patentable
subject-matter common to their applications and thoa e/of your
clients. Their feeling about these .interference's , however, is
like my own, namely, that the issues are not of sufficient
importance to justify the expense of a oontest.
Kindly let me have an expression of your views of the
matters above presented at your early convenience. And oblige.
Yours very truly.
<s
1
Aug. 24 ,1907
Baxter Morton, Esq.,
42 Broadway, Hew York, W.Y.
Dear Sir: —
Your favor of August 22 has Been received. Ab
you know, Mr. Dyer is away and our action in this matter will
have to wait on his return.
I have ordered a copy of the patent to Power, Ho.
826,112, to which you refer. Gan you not let me haw
what is the substance of the disclosure in the Warwi'ck Trad¬
ing Company's catalogue, which you refer to in your letter,
so that we may have the same light on this subject as is in
your possession when we take the matter up for final con¬
sideration, and oblige-
Yours very truly,
HHD/kjT,
[ATTACHMENT]
Charles Turner Brown, Esq.,
Unity Building, Chicago, Ill.
Bear Sir: —
Enclosed I an handing you carbon copies of
the assignment to be signed by Messrs. Moore and Armstrong}
license or shop-right granted back by the Edison Manu¬
facturing Company, assignee, to Moore, Bond to Company, and
embodying the suggestions contained in your letter of-
June 22, 1907, and copy of an agreement between Messrs.
Moore and Armstrong, and the Edison Manuf actur ing Company,
by which Moore and Armstrong agree to furnish evidence
necessary to obtain a patent and sustain its validity when
obtained, and the Edison Manufacturing Company agree to
prosecute interferences in the Patent Offioe and to sue
infringers.
In preparing those papers I have followed as
closely as possible the lines of our previous correspond¬
ence, and the papers seem to me to bo in proper form. Of
course, if either you or Messrs. Moore and Armstrong find
anything in these papers not to your satisfaction, I will
+ ty. ibayo.jr nil _ i,,«. J A , ,
CTU — 2 — Sept .23rd, 1907
give them. full consideration. Ab soon as you notify
me that the papers are satisfactory, I will have them
executed so far as that can he done here, and forward
them to Chicago with check for seven huhdred dollars
as agreed upon.
Very truly yours,
HTIh/aTJIi
enclosure
r
CHARLES TURNER BROWN,
ATTORNEY AT LAW
838-830 UNITY BUILDING,
t
Chicago, III., Sept. 36, 1807.
Hon. Frank L. Dyer,
Gen‘ 1 Counsel, etc,,
Elis onHanuf a c turing Company.
Orange, N7 J.
Dear Sir;
Yesterday I received your favor of the 23rd inst. , with pap®
in the Ho ore Armstrong matter.
The assignment and agreement are all right.
With regard to the license there are two points which Mr. Moore
desires me to call Jsour attention to. First; Moore, Bond and CO., 0.
do not own their factory and may be' compelled to move inthe future.
Secondly,- they have had a number of Edison machines brought to them
to attach this protectig device to; and in fact have bought Edison
machines of your Chicago office and attached the device to them and
then sold the machines. The placing of such device on the machine givig
the preference of sale to them.
I suggest therefore, lines 14 and 15, page 2 should read,-
named, at its factory inthe City of Chicago, and in no other place or
places, such factory now located at Nos. 104-6-8 Franklin Street, (and
if the locationthereof be changed immediate mtice of such change is to
given to the said EdisonManufacturing Company hy said Moore, Bond &
Co),
Page 3, line 5, insert after "projecting machines",— except that
the said- .Moore, Bond & Co., may make the machine now and heretofore
made by it and attach the same on Edison Machines owned by purchasers
and brought to said factory of Moore, Bond & Co therefor by said pur-
A.
CHARLES TURNER BROWN,
ATTORNEY AT LAW
Chicago, III., Oct. 4, 1907.
Prank L. Ryer, Esq.,
■ Orange, N. J.
Dear Sir;
In reply to your favor of the 1st inst. I have care¬
fully examined my letter of June 22, and can see how you infer as
stated in your letter? but if you will read my letter ii^&onnection
with yours of the 18th June and 5th Ju^y, (07) and the facts as
I will endeavor to place them before you, you will see that our
intentioi^as to reserve all I now ask. And it seems to me as a
would ask you to refer the matter to them as a business proposition
before making your final decision in this regard.
Your clients make the Universal and the Exhibition moving
picture machine. You do mt place this film protecting device on
your Universal machine. . Reference to your purchase and sales
department will show the Moore Bond & Co .,' corporation are buyers
of loth machines of youj and that their purchaser of the Universal
are as 9 to 1 compared with their purchases of the ExhiitiAn ma-
chine. Pages 41 and 42 of their cAialdgue^show what they do.
Now, if you put the protecting device on the Universal machine
the. concession to them will be of no value; and if you stop the
output of the Universal it will be of no value. But if you confcl
tinue to sell the Universal moving picture machine v/ithout the
film protecting device they, (Moore- Bond Co), can promote the
sale of it together with the sale of their lanterns, bjp the conces;*
sion; and that is why they have expected to retain the right,
course your price is not so high on the Universal? but so long t
you have it on thgjjarket jure, suppose you want to_sell it.
,
[ATTACHMENT]
•' *42 >*■»!.•
these machines requires an extra man, and even Uie'riiyqu coiiiid not dis¬
solve a still picture into a moving and a moving into a still picture.
This double Leader lantern is so constructed that the top lantern
slides to one side and remains in that position, during the entertainment.
The. top= reel of the moving picture machine therefore cannot 'interfere
with the light from the top lantern. The: fields from the two lanterns
t .can be. as ; quickly '.and accurately' registered with this' style of Leader as
•V^|.th.t^e fcgularidoublc Leadcr-rit is just as simple , to bperate,. just as
V quickly •; seL up and , requires bo /larger ‘ carrying • case than the regular
double" lantern. Connections -between the two • lanterns' arc . so : con¬
structed .that-thc top lantern' is firmly bound to !thc lower lantern aind the
lower lantern is.figidly secured to, the. hardwood’ baseboard, by -means
of four turn-buckle hooks. " The combination, is therefore, firm’ and1 rigid
—no shake or vibration while operating.- -tv rrsLi • / !
The Leader lantern is the only practical double lantern to combine
with a moving picture machine, and is the only lantern made with which
you can. dissolve from still to moving pictures and from moving to still
pictures^,: The’dissolving isas perfect as though two still pictures were
used Tit'a regular .dissolving lantern. - . q
Charles Turner Brown, Esq.,
Unity Building, Chicago, Ill.
Dear Sir: —
I have your favor of the 4th inst., and have
talked over the matters discussed therein with my clients,
and they say that there will he no objection to Moore, Bond
& Company equipping the "Edison Universal" Moving Picture
Projecting Machines with the film protecting mechanism. Y/e
are therefore willing to concede to Moore, Bond & Company the
right to equip this type of machine with this film protecting
apparatus, although as stated in my last letter I do not con¬
sider that this is a right which' was reserved in the sale of
the Moore & Armstrong application. I judge from your letter
and the accompanying catalogue that such an arrangement will
answer the purpose of your clients, and I am therefore enclos¬
ing a copy of the license embodying this provision. I have
made some other slight changes to improve the form of this
document, but this is the only change in substance.
I hope that the papers are now in form satis¬
factory to your clients so that the matter may be closed up
without further delay.
You promised me a history of the Moore Sc Armstrong
case some time since, hut I have not yet received it. Please
let me have this history at once so that 1 oam determine
what action to take in the Interferences diready declared.
Very truly yours,
HHH/toli General Counsel.
enclosure
Automatic 2&M.
I" CHARLES TURNER BROWN, T
Frank L. Hyer, Esqt>
Counsel, Edison Mfg Co.
Orange, N. J,
Dear Sir:
Chicago, Iu., 0Ct. l8 10o?>
1 enclose the, assignment and agreement, also a brief
history of the invention, in the matter of the Film Protecting
device of Messrs Moore and Armstrong/
The license received to day be me is all right* and a
copy signed and executed *111, I suppose accompany your next
remittance.
[ENCLOSURE]
History ‘of the invention by William B. Moore-and _ ' _ —
ThoraaB H. Armstrong, of the Film Protecting device qn Mov¬
ing Picture Machines set out in their joint application
for Letters Patent of the United states, filed Huhe 25, 1906,
serial No. 323,270. '
William B. Moore is the manager of the Moore-Bond ft Co,,
a corporation, eto., and was the manager of the stereoptioon
and Film Exchange, (predecessor of Moore - Bond & Co. ), from
the first organisation of such company.
Thomas H. Armstrong is the foreman of the shop of said
Moore-Bond fc Co., and its predecessors( has been foreman for
the last seven years. )
About the first of November 1904, Mr. George Price,
(then an exhibitor) called Mr. Moore's- attention to the film
protecting device shown by a cut in the catnl og of a foreign
dealer, (name not now at hand) and exhibited such catalog and
the cut of the devic.e to Mr. Moore.
Mr. Price had been prior to that time an employee of the
Stereoptioon and Film Exchange, working for such company for
more than six months.
Mr. Moore stated to Mr. Price at this time, "I don't
think that is a good mechanical construction; 1 think we can
get up a better thing than that. »
Mr. Moore called! Mr. Armstrong's attention to the raak~,
ing of a film protecting device, and outlined the needs of the
device, the automatic,! feature, the making ' of a machine which
could lie attached to .the Edison machine principally, but also
to other machines, th| economy of room desired, and the use
of centrifugal force and frictiop.
[ENCLOSURE]
Mr. Armstrong was shown the cut, and he made suggestions.
It was decided between Messrs Moore and Armstrong at that
tiije that a thin metal disc.EiovIng'botwoorx tho-ixguu'onino .
stereopticon and the opening of the moving picture machine
and operating automatically should be made by them; and some
sketches of parts were then made, (these sketches were not
preserved),'
Several interviews between Messrs Moore and Armstrong
on this subject occurred between the middle of November and
about the first of December 1904, and a drawing of the
machine as first made was completed about the first day of
December 1904, a copy of such drawing is attached hereto
as exhibit A. She original drawing was not preserved.
The construction of thiB machine was delayed owing to
other demands on the ship; and to the frequent discussions
between Moore and Armstrong during the month of December, and
was not completed until the middle of January 1905, This
first machine is not now in existence.
The parts of the machine were made by Mr. Armstrong and
the machine, as it progressed was in view of all the work¬
men in the shop, and some of the tests* of it were seen by
them, but were not seen by outsiders'. The workmen who were
then in the employ of the stereopticon & Film Exchange and’
who .saw it were Albert Hepinsky, Rudolph Geister and Robert
Armstrong.
The several parts were made, the machine put together
and operated on^the 14th day of January 1905.
The operation of this machine was in the dark room of
the Moore-Bond % Co., on the eame floor as the shop in which
it was made, and was in the presence of George W. Bond,
William B. Moore and Thomas H. Armstrong.
[ENCLOSURE]
. V
' The operation of the machine was r epeated several tines
a day for many days in the manthsbf January nne
1905.
The string was placed in the machine as a substitute
for flat spring ribbons.
The next machine was completed on or about the last
of March 1905 and closely resembled the one now made by the
Edison Manufacturing Company.
The next machine made was like Exhibit B to statement
of Moore and Armstrong enclosed; and was completed about
January 1, 1906.
These last machines were seen by the employees named and
others, at the time of their completion; and several of the
last named machines were made before the pending application
3
f
ASSIGNMENT -
WHEREAS, we, WILLIAM B. MOORE, a citizen of tho
United States and a resident of Chicago, in tho County of
Cook and State of Illinois, and THOMAS H. ARMSTRONG, a
oitizen of the United States and a resident of Chicago, in
the County of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented
oertain now and useful improvements in MOVING PICTURE
MACHINES, for which we have applied for letters Patent of
the United States, the application papers therefor having
been executed by us on the 23rd day of June, 1906 and said
application having been filed in the Patent Office on June
25, 1906 and serially numbered 323,270, and
WHEREAS, the EDISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, a cor¬
poration organized and existing under and by virtue of tho
laws of the State of Hew Jersey, and Jiaving its principal
office at WoHt Orange, Bounty of Essex in said State, de¬
sires to aoquire the entire right, title and interest in
and to the aforesaid invention and application, and in and
to any Letters Patent of the United States to be granted
therefor;
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH that for
and in consideration of one dollar, and of other good and
valuable considerations, the receipt whereof 1b hereby
acknowledged, we, said William B. Moore and Thomas H. Arm¬
strong, have assigned, transferred and set over, unto Baid
Edison Manufacturing Company, its successors, assigns or
other legal representatives, the ontire right, title and
interest in the said invention, aB fully set forth and de¬
scribed in tho specification of said application for Letters
Patent of the United States for said invention, and also the
entire right, title and interest in and to any and all Let-
1.
tors Patent of the United States which may he granted there¬
for, and in and to any reissue or reissues, or extension or
extensions, of said letters Patent, the same to he held and
enjoyed hy said Edison Manufacturing Company, its success¬
ors, assigns and other legal representatives, to the full
end of the term or terms for which said Letters Patent of
the United States are or may he granted, reissued or ex¬
tended, as fully and entirely as the same would have heen
held and enjoyed hy us, said William B. Moore and Thomas
H. Armstrong, if this assignment and Bale had not heen
made.
And we hereby authorize and request the Commission¬
er or Patents to issue the said Letters Patent of the
United States to said Edison Manufacturing Company, its
successors, assigns or ot^er legal representatives, in ac¬
cordance with this assignment, and we hereby covenant that
wo have full fight to convey the interest herein assigned,
and that we have not exeouted and will not execute, any
agreement in confliot herewith.
And we hereby expressly covenant and agree that
whenever said Edison Manufacturing Company, its successors,
assigns, or other legal representatives, advise us that
other or further papers are necessary to he executed hy us
to perfect the title of said Edison Manufacturing Company,
its successors, assigns and other legal representatives, in
and to said invention, or in and to any Letters Patent of
the United States therefor, and in and to any reissue or re¬
issues, or extension or extensions, or that any reissue or
reissues, or extension or extensions, is or are desirable and
lawful, we will sign all papers, take all rightful oaths
and do all necessary acts for procuring such reissue or
reissues, or extension or extensions.
2.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto signed our
names at Chicago, Illinois, this / day of
State of Illinois,)
County of Cook. )
On this / ^ day of in
the year of our lord, one thousand nine hundred and seven ,
before me personally appeared WILLIAM B. MOORE, to me per¬
sonally known, and known to me to be the person described
in and who executed the foregoing assignment, and he ac¬
knowledged to me that he executed the same, as and for the
purposes therein set forth.
State of Illinois,)
)ss:
County of Cook. )
On this / £^/day of ^
the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and seven,
before me personally appeared THOMAS H. ARMSTRONG, to me
personally known, and known to me to be the person describ¬
ed in and who executed the foregoing assignment, and he aok
nowledged to me that he exeouted the same, as and for the
purposes therein set forth.
u^)
A G R E E H E N T
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT entered into this <£/ ^day
of 1907, by and between WILLIAM B. MOORE and
THOMAS H. ARMSTRONG, both residents of Chicago, in the
County of Cook and State of Illinois, parties of the first
port, and the EDISON MA3JUPACTURIMG COMPANY, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Nov/ Jersey, and
having its principal place of business at West Orange, in
the County of Essex in said State, party of the second
part, WITNESSETH;
WHEREAS, tho said William B. Moore and the said
Thomas II. Armstrong have .-Jointly invented certain new and
useful improvements in MOVING PICTURE MACHINES , for which
they have applied for Letters Patent of tho United States,
the application papers therefor having boon executed by
them on tho 23rd day of June, 1906, und said application
having bean filed in the Patent Office on June 25, 1906,
and numbored serially 323,270, and
WHEREAS, tho said parties of the first part, for and
in consideration of good and valuable considerations duly
paid to them by tho said party of the seoond part, have
sold, assigned and transferred unto the said party of the
seoond part, the entire right, title and interest in and
to said invention and application and in and to any Letters
Patent which may bo granted thoroon, and
WHEREAS, tho said party of the second part has
granted a license to Moore, Bond & Company, a corporation
of Illinois and having its principal plaoe of business at
1.
Chicago, in the County of Cook in said. State and now lo¬
cated at Ho. 104-6-0 Franklin Street, in the said City of
Chicago, (in which corporation the said William B. Moore,
one of the parties of the first part, ia largely interest¬
ed,) to equip moving pictrire projecting machines manufac¬
tured hy the said Moore, Bond & Company at their factory
at Ho. 104-6-8 Franklin Street in the said City of Chicago,
and at no other place, with film protecting mechanism as
set forth in the said application, ami in any Letters
Patent which may he issued thereof, wherefore each of the
parties hereto is interested in securing the grant of a
patent or patents upon the Baid application and in sustain¬
ing the validity of any patents to he granted on said in¬
vention;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises
and of the sum of one dollar in hand paid hy each of the
parties hereto to the other, it is agreed as follows:
(1) The said parties of the first part and each of
them, will furnish any and all oral and written evidence,
papers, exhibits, models or machines which may he required
hy the party of the second port and which may he matorial
or necessary in any interference in which the Baid applica¬
tion is now involved in the Patent Office or in which it
may hereafter become involved, to secure if possible and
proper, a determination of the issues involved in all such
interferences in favor of the said application of Moore and
Armstrong, Ho. 323, 270;
(2) The parties of the first part further agree
that they will furnish all evidsnoe, papers, exhibits,
models or machines, which may he required hy the party of
the seoond part and which may he necessary or material to
2.
sustain the validity of any Letters Patent whioh shall here¬
after he granted upon the said application and the said
invention described therein, and will perform all acts nnd
do all things in their power proper to he performed or done,
to assist the said party of the second part in maintaining
the validity of saoh Letters Patent and in prosecuting any
infringers thereof;
(3) The party of the second part agrees, if ad¬
vised hy counsel to do so, to prosecute all interferences
in the Patent Office in which the said application of
Moore and Armstrong, Ho. 323,270 is now or shall hereafter
he involved in the Patent Office, paying all the expenses
of such prosecution and further agrees, if advised hy
oounsel to do so, to prosecute at its own expense all in--
fringers of any Letters Patent whioh may hereafter he grant¬
ed upon the said application;
(4) The party of the second part further agrees to
reimburse the said parties of the first part and each of
them, for any reasonable and prdper expenses whioh they
may incur in the furnishing of the evidence, papers, ex¬
hibits, models or machines, which the parties of the first
part or either of them shall furnish in accordance v/ith
the undertakings contained in this agreement, and to pay.
all necessary expenses whioh may he incurred hy the par¬
ties of the first part, or either of them, in carrying out
the said undertakings, and to pay in addition to the said
expense, to said parties of the first part, a reasonable
sum per diem for the time actually consumed hy the said
parties in carrying out their said undertakings, hut in
every oaso no expenses shall he incurred nor services ren¬
dered hy the parties of the first part, or either of them,
• ... : . jk
for v/hich tho party of the second part shall in any wise
he liablo unless the party of the second part shall he first
notified thereof and signify its approval of the same.
12JT WITM75SS WHEHFOF the parties of the firBt part
have signed their names hereto :
the presence of two wit-
I nesses and the party of tho second part has caused its n«
to ho signed hy its ^president and its corporate seal to
he affixed hereto and attested hy its secretary.
I Witnesses to signature of
WiUiajn B. Moore.
- ns
r
WHEREAS, WILLIAM B. MOORE, a citizen of the
United States and a resident of Chicago, in the County of
Cook and State of IXlinoio, and THOMAS H. ARMSTRONG , a
citizen of the United States and a resident of Chicago,
in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, have Jointly
invented certain now and useful improvements in MOVING
PICTURE MACHINES, for v/hioh they have applied for Letters
Patent of the United States, the application papers there¬
for having been exoouted hy them on the 23rd flay of June,
1506 and said application having Been filed in the Patent
Office on June 25, 1906, and serially numbered 323,270,
WHEREAS, said WILLIAM B. MOORE and said THOMAS H,
ARMSTRONG, by an instrument in writing, properly signed,
executed *ind delivered, have transferred and aesignod the
entire right, title and interest in and to the aforesaid in¬
vention and applicatt on and In and to any and all Letters
Patent of the United States to bo granted therefor, to the
Edison Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Hew Jersey,
and having its prinoipal offioo at West Orange, County of
Essex in said State, and the said Edison Manufacturing
Company is now the sole owner of said invention and appli¬
cation and of uny Letters Patent hereafter to be granted
therefor, and
WHEREAS, MOORE, BOND io COMPANY, a corporation
organized under the laws of the state of Illinois, and
having its prinoipal place of business at Chicago, Illinois,
desires to secure a non-i
aignable shop-right or license to
manufacture' the film protecting mechanism invented by the
said Moore and Armstrong and set forth in the said applica¬
tion No. 323, 270, and in any Letters Patent which may ho
granted therefor, subject to the terms and conditions here¬
inafter mimed
HOW THIS IMDENTORE WITNESSETH, that for and in con¬
sideration of one dollar, and of other good and valuable
considerations, paid by the said Moore, Bond & Company to
the said Edison Manufacturing Company, the receipt whereof
is hereby acknowledged, the said Edison Manufacturing Com¬
pany hereby licenses and empowers said Moore, Bond & Com¬
pany to manufacture, subject to the conditions hereinafter
named, at its factory in the City of Chioago, and in no
other place or plaoes, film protecting mechanism containing
the improvements set forth in Baid application, or in any
patent or patents which may bo issued on said application
to the end of the term or terms for which said Letters
Patent shall be granted;
Provided, however, that any film protecting meohan-
iem which may be so made shall be strictly limited for use
in connection with moving picture proj acting: machines manu¬
factured by said Moore, Bond & Company, and in connection
with Edison Universal moving picture projecting machines,
which the said Moore, Bond & Company may purchase from the
said Edison Manufacturing Company, and Buch film protecting
mechanism shall not be used in any other way or in connec¬
tion with any other projecting machines, nor shall such
film protecting mechanism be sold or offored for Bale, or
leased or in any other. IwaysdispSs'ed 6feby:.±he said Moore,
Bond & Company, aB a separate attachment for projecting
machines. The Edison Manufacturing Company hereby re-
2.
serves unto itself the right to withdraw the said EdiBon
Universal moving pioture projecting machine from the mar¬
ket at any time. It is understood that the factory of the
licensee hereunder is now located at iros. 104-106-108 Frank¬
lin Street, in the City of Chicago, hut the Edison Manufac¬
turing Company agrees that the shop-right heroin granted
will not terminate if the location of Bald factory he
changed to any other plaoe in the said City of Chicago,
provided immediate notice of such change ho given hy the
said Moore, Bond A Company to the said Edison Manufacturing
Company. In case of any violation of the terms of this
agreement hy said Moore, Bond & Company this license may
thereupon he revoked hy the Edison Manufacturing Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Edison Manufacturing Company
has caused its name to he signed hy its President, and its
corporate seal to he affixed hereto this ‘r^day of
1907.
EDISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
By ■
Secretary.
[ATTACHMENT]
9
t
, A
;
tv.
V
- II C E N E
WHEREAS, WILLIAM B. MOORE, a citizen of the
United States and a resident of Chicago, in the County of
Coot and State of Illinois, and THOMAS H. ARMSTRONG , a
citizen of the United States and a resident of Chicago,
in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, have jointly
invented certain new and useful improvements in MOVING
PICTURE MACHINES, for which they have applied for Letters
Patent of the United States, the application papers there¬
for having "been executed by them on the 23rd day of June,
1906 and said application having been filed in the Patent
Office on June 25, 1906, and serially numbered 323,270,
and
WHEREAS, said WILLIAM B. MOORE and said THOMAS H.
ARMSTRONG, by an instrument in writing, properly signed,
executed and delivered, have transferred and assigned the
entire right title and interest in and to the aforesaid in¬
vention and application and in and to any and all Letters
Patent of the United States to be granted therefor, to the
Edison Manufacturing Company, a corporation of New Jersey,
and having its principal office at West Orange, County of
Essex in said State, and the said Edison Mamif actur ing
Company is now the sole owner of said invention and appli¬
cation and of any Letters Patent hereafter to be granted
therefor, and
WHEREAS, MOORE, BOND & COMPANY, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Illinois, and
having its principal place of business at Chicago, Illinois
desires to secure a non-ass ignable shop-right or license to
[ATTACHMENT]
manufacture the film protecting mechanism invented by the
said Moore and Armstrong and set forth in the said applica¬
tion Ho. 323, 270, and in any Letters Patent which may he
granted therefor, subject to the terms and conditions here¬
inafter named
HOW THIS INDENTURE WITHES SETH, that for and in con¬
sideration of one dollar, and of other good and valuable
considerations, paid by the said lloore, Bond & Company ,to
the said Edison Manufacturing Company, the receipt whereof
is hereby acknowledged, the said Edison Manufacturing Com¬
pany hereby licenses and empowers said Moore, Bond & Com¬
pany to manufacture, subject to the conditions hereinafter
named, at its factory in the City of Chicago, and in no other
place or places, such factory ncwloeated at Hos. 104-6-8
PranKlin Street, and ii ohe location thereof be changed im¬
mediate notice of such change is to be given to the said
Edison Manufacturing Company by said Moore, Bond & Company,
film protecting mechanism containing the improvements set
forth in Moore and Armstrong's said application, serially
numbered 323,270, or in any patent or patents which may be
issued on said application to the end of the term or terms
for which said Letters Patent shall be granted;
This license grants no right to manufacture any
part or parts of moving picture projecting machines, under
any patents which are or may be controlled by the Edison
Manufacturing Company, except the film protecting mechanism
therefor embodying said invention of Moore and Armstrong,
and is limited strictly to the equipping of moving picture
projecting machines manufactured hy the said Moore, Bond &
Company with the said film protecting mechanism, and the
said Moore, Bond & Company does not, under this license,
acquire the right to equip machines other than those manu¬
factured by it with the said improvements, nor to make or
sell, or lease or otherwise dispose of, automatic film pro-
2.
[ATTACHMENT]
tecting mechanism, as attachments for moving picture pro¬
jecting machines other than those manufactured hy said
Moore, Bond & Company, nor to sell, lease or otherwise dis¬
pose of such film protecting mechanism independently of
moving picture projecting machines. In case of any viola¬
tion of any of the terms of this license hy said Moore, Born
& Company, this license may thereupon he revoked hy the
Edison Manufacturing Company.
IH WITNESS WHEREOF , the Edison Manufacturing Company
has caused its name to he signed hy its President, and its
corporate seal to he affixed hereto this day of
1907
Attest
EDISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
By _
President .
Secretary.
A. Weateo, Secretary
Edison Manufacturing' Company,
Orange, 21. J.
Dear Sir: —
Please let me have a check of the Edison Manufacturing
Company, for seven hundred dollars ($700.) drawn to the
order of William B. Moore and Thomas H. Armstrong, This
is to pay for the invention and application of the said
Moore and Armstrong for film protecting shutter for moving
pioture machines, the purchase of which Jiao been authorised
by Mr. Gilmore. All the papers are now ready, and immedi¬
ately on receipt of this check we will close the transac¬
tion.
Very truly yours,
hhd/mjl
General Counsel.
Oct .22 , 1907
Charles Turner Brwwn, Esq.,
Unity Building, Chicago, Ill.
Dear Sir:--
I tun enclosing you the following:
Edison Manufacturing Company's oheck for seven
hundred dollars (§700.) drawn to tho order of William B.
Moor a and Thomas E. Armstrong.
license made hy the EdiBon Manufacturing Company
‘to Moore, Bond & Company.
Agreement betv/een tho Edison Manufacturing Com-f;
pany and Moore and Armstrong, executed on the part of the
Edison Manufacturing Company.
Substitute Bower of Attorney in Moore and Arms¬
trong application.
Extra copies of the^ahj^sragifSement and of the
assignment made hy Moore and Armstrong to the Edison Manu¬
facturing Company.
j Please Bign tie substitute Power of Attorney and
return same to me. All the other papers are to be retained
by you.
• '-.w . '
CTB— 2— Oct.22, 1907.
I trust that this satisfactorily closes up the
matter of the purchase of the Moore and Armstrong applica¬
tion by the Edison Manufacturing Company.
Very truly yours,
General Counsel.
Hiro/kjL
enclosures .
f r t
* CHARLES TURNER BROWN,
ATTORNEY AT LAW
838-830 UNITY BUILDING,
Chicago, Im,., 0ct- 34, 1907.
Frank L. Eyer, Esq.
Orange, N. J,
Bear Sir;
I enclose substitute attorney appointment, as per
your request this day received. Draft and executed instru¬
ment license Edison Mfg Co. to Moore-Bond & Co, tilth copies
of itcefflje , assignment and agreement also received, for
which please receive my thanks.
I telegraphed you yesterday "Send draft payment
Moore-Armstrong assignment Edison Mfg Co." because the party
Bast who desired to negotiate for purchase again wrote Messrs
M. and A., and they suggested they did not want to send final
refusal until I heard of the receipt by you of the signed
papers, and that same were satisfactory j and I, believing
they must be, worded the telegram.
I am pleased the matter is disposed of $ and will be
of such assistance to you as I can, at your request.
Yours truly.
1
BAXTER MORTON
"7
October 26th, 1907.
Mr. H. H. Dyke,
Legal Department, Edison Laboratory,
Orange, If. J.
Dear Mr. Dykos-
1 have gotten togothor all the witnesses on behalf of Power in the
interference Power vs. Aikon vs. Oertly except one, aid can put in Power's
testimony in chief this week if you are anxious to go ahond with the
interference. If you have no special desire to proceed, I shall be very glad
to stipulate a postponement of the testimony. If you would prefer to go ahead,
I would like to begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 31et. Unless I can secure
a suitable room nearer the office of the Nicholas Fewer Com; any for the purpose,
I will expect to take the testimony at my former office at 42 Broadway.
Please let me know at once what you would prefer to do in the
premises. Perhaps you had bettor telephone mo as soon as you have considered
the matter with Mr. Dyer. I will be at the office of the Nicholas Power Company
all of Monday morning, and probably, Monday afternoon after 2 o'clock. The
'phone number bt. 7653 Cortlandt.
Prom ini’- observation of conditions in the picture machine business,
I am disposed to think it would be a good thing for all if the principal
manufacturers of picture machines were to effect some working arrangement so
as to present a strong front to the trade, and insure a continuance of
substantial profits. 1 have reason to believe that practically all the manu¬
facturers outside of the Edison Company would Idok favorably upon an arrangement
of this character, and that they would be willing to join in any equitable
arrangement. 1 am mentioning this because I presume you know or can easily find
out how the Edison Company would look upon a proposition to enter into such an
arrangement. If you are in a position to do so, I wish you would let me know
how such a propositionm would probably be received, and, if you think any arrange¬
ment including the Edison Company could he made, I would like to know whom it
would he well to take the matter up with. If anything could be accomplished by
coming out to your office and taking the matter up with Ur. Dyer and other
gentlemen connected with the Edison Company, I will he glad to come out at once
and present my views of the matter.
Yours very truly.
i
2
f
BAXTER MORTON
COUNSELOR AT LAW
«2"BtjOADWXY;'r
1 NEW YORK
' 115 Hat-: sou 3-treat.
Oct. £9, 1907.
I'.r. E. K. Dyke ,
Assistant Counsel ,
raison Laboratory,
Orange, E. .7.
Lora- T'r. IJyke:-
”our favor of yesterday confirming telephone
conversation received and in reply beg to say that 1 shall
■prob; bly run out to Orange on Friday to confer v.ith you
and such other gentlemen as you nay think it advisable to
see, but v:ill communicate v.ith you by telephone Fhursday
evenin^ or Friday morning to make a definite appointment.
Hov. 4,
1907
Messrs. Bacon & Milano ,
SOB 0 Street, Vauhinston, P.'O.
Gentlemen: —
I telegraphed you this morning :
"Pont file Aiken ooncession of prSferity.
Assignee is wr ong . "
1 an enclosing yon a properly drawn concession
of priority, the assignee being the Mison Manufacturing
Company and not the Mow Jersey Patent Company, as atated
in the paper which 1 first sent you. Please have thiB
paper filed in the Patent Office without delay and oblige
Yours very truly,
HHP/terc,
enclosure
General Counsel,
/
BAXTER MORTON
COUNSELOR AT LAW
NEW YORK
117 NASSAU ST.
Mr. H. H. Dyke, Asst. Counsel,
Edison Dabaratory,
Orange, H/ J.
Dear Mr. Dyke:
Your letter ooyering signed copy of the agreement
with Sohneider duly teoelved and oontenta noted. 1 will accordingly
have Sohneider exeoute a formal concession of priority and send it
to you as soon as possible.
In the Power interference, I should like to take tes¬
timony aB soon ns you oan attend, I shall have to go to Chicago
to attend the Moving Picture Convention on Saturday next and am
hoping we oan close the testimony by Thursday afternoon. I Bhall
call only five witnesses and none of the depositions should be very
long. I will oall you up Monday at 10 A. M. to arrange finally about
it;
Yours very truly,
Le^al Box. 1* *73
3itt %
Hntteft patent GDfttn>
Interference No. 27,479 D.
AIKEN V Automatic Film Protecting Screen
BRIEF FOR OERTLY ON FINAL HEARING.
FRANK L. DYER,,
• Attorney. for Oertly.
HERBERT H. DYKE, V ; ;
Of Counsel.-
fu tMtoiM states ffafont (Dfto
Oertly, J .
vs. I Interference No. 27,479 D.
Aiken, > Automatic Film Protecting Screen
vs. I For Kinetoscopes.
Power. 1
BRIEF FOR OERTLY ON FINAL HEARING.
Oertly is the senior party to this interference, having filed
his application in April, 190C, the application of Power not
having been filed until the following October. Oertly be¬
ing the senior party and the first to apply to the Patent Office
is priina facie the first inventor, and the burden of proof is
on Power to establish clearly and affirmatively that he is the
prior inventor. Punk vs. Malteson vs. Haines, .100 O. G.,
1764; Robinson vs. Thresher, 123 O. G., 2627.
Oertly has taken no proofs but relies on his date of filing,
April 24, 1906, for a constnictivc reduction to practice. The
testimony in behalf of Power is to the effect that he con¬
structed an attachment for a movirtg picture projecting
machine, embodying the invention of the interference issue
in August and September, of 1905, that this machine, which
is in evidence as “Power’s Exhibit A,” was subjected to
some shop tests, the outcome of which is not shown by the
evidence, reliance being apparently placed by Power upon
the test of the device in Herald Square, New York, in front
of the Herald Building, in the month of November, 1905, on
the night when the returns were made of the McClellan
and Hcarst election ; that the machine was placed on the shelf
from the time of its completion until election night, 1905,
at which time it was used for the projection of moving pic¬
tures in Herald /Square, and that since that time it has re¬
mained on tile shelf until it was taken down for use in con¬
nection with the preparation of the patent application in-
volved in this interference, about October, 1906 — and it is
to be noted in this connection that the machine on which
application for patent was made is quite different from the
machino made in - August, and September > of ■ 1905, “and 'in
evidence as “Power’s Exhibit A” — and that from that time
until it was introduced in evidence in this interference in the
month of December, 1907, it was again placed on the shelf
.and no use was made of it. .
It will be apparent ■ that to prevail in this proceeding
Power must show- that- the machino in -evidence as “Power’s
Exhibit A” is a reduction to practice-of the invention of the
interference issue, for it is quite apparent that except fort
what was done in the making and use of this machine, .
Power was not diligent in .following_.up.lhis conception of
August, 1905 (see preliminary statement),' for he did not
file , his application until -October, . 1906.’ The- law- on. this
point is well stated. in-Paul vs. Hess, 115 O. G., 251 (Court,
of App„ D. C.),as follows:
“That. application having. been filed later, the bur--
den was imposed upon Paul, to show a reduction to
practice preceding Hess’ date, or of such an- earlier -
conception. followed up with due diligence to reduc¬
tion to practice, either -actual or constructive.”
, Power alleges, as reasons for his delay, that he was ex¬
tremely busy) and that there was no demand: for a film-pro¬
tecting screen until about the time of the filing of his applica¬
tion, but it is well settled that- Ocrtly having entered the field
during the period of his -inactivity, these mere business rea¬
sons' will not excuse Power's delay of a -year and more in
: the.filing of his application. IVatson-vs. Thomas, 106 O. G.,
1776, C. D. of 1903, page 370 ; R obinson vs. Copeland, III
O, G., 579, C. D, of 1904, page 257; Sccbcrger t\s. Dodge,
114 O. G., 2382; Wymtm vs. Donnelly, C. D. of-ipoj, page :
556, and Parkcs vs. Lends, 123 O. G., 2313.
TESTS GIVEN TO POWER’S MACHINE OF 1905,
There are several indefinite1 references in the- evidence on
behalf of Power; to tests given to: the shutter attachment to-
see whether it worked properly; as for example; in the evi- 1
dence of Power himself we find the following:
“Q. 29. Was the exhibition which was given by
you with the apparatus in evidence on election night,
1905, given for the purpose of testing the shutter at¬
tachment on it ?
A. I tested it previous to that under way satis¬
factory to 111c.”
This testimony, of course, refers to tests made during the
construction of the shutter attachment and not after its
completion. I11 the testimony of the witness Uhlemann
(Q. 15), there is a statement that the attachment was operated'
in the shop at 1 17 Nassau Street, but nothing is said as to
the outcome of such tests. Such somewhat indefinite sug¬
gestions furnish no clear indication of whether or not the .
machine was operative at the time of its construction, and it
is apparent that if -'this unachine is held to have been a re¬
duction to practice in 1905, such holding must be based upon
the tests which were made on election night, in November,
1905. It is, of course, well settled that the 'fact that the
machine may now appear to be operative in that when the
crank is turned the shutter will be raised, does not prove that
it was operative at the time when it is alleged to have been
made. Fefcl vs. Stocker, 94 O. G., 433, C. D. of 1901,
p, 269. Further, such operation is of no value as it is
not a test under working Conditions, for the machine is, de¬
signed to operate in the presence of a high heat and when a
film is being passed through it for purposes of exhibition.
In Bliss vs. Mclilroy, 122 O. G., 2687 (affirmed by Court
of Appeals, D. C„ 128 O. G., 458), where the device, in is¬
sue was intended for the electrical lighting 'of^niilway cars, .
the Commissioner said:’
“This -device was never used for the purpose of
lighting a car, but for the purpose of experiment was
tested in the basement of a building. It seems to
have been laid aside after the test and Bliss devoted-
his attention to other inventions. He made and put
into use another car-lighting system and filed many
applications relating to other inventions. Such con¬
duct naturally tends to discredit his allegations that
his test of this invention was a success."
Power’s device, like that of Bliss, was discarded after its
completion and alleged test and was replaced by another and
different device.
were resorted to because as. Power’s earlier device was a
mere unsuccessful experiment, which he abandoned in favor
of liis later form of construction. .
CONCLUSION.
We submit in conclusion that Power, who is the junior
party, has not sustained the burden which rests upon
him to show by clear and affirmative proof that his
1905 machine was a reduction to practice of the invention
and is therefore entitled to the date thereof — November, 1905
— only as a date of conception ; that he did nothing with his
invention from November, 1905, until September, 1906,
and that during this period of his inactivity, Oertly in April,
1906, entered the field and constructively reduced the inven¬
tion to practice by the filing of an allowable application and
that, therefore, Oertly, although the last to conceive, was the
first to file and the first to reduce to practice, and is entitled
to an award of priority.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank L. Dyer,
Attorney for Oertly.
Herbert H. Dyke,
Of Counsel.
ur4-U-c. C^-
|^Li2/WJ^ [<j 0ts , ^ K 4
POSTAL TELEGRAPH fj|gp COMMERCIAL CABLES
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%JUOXA^ (&A-CA-) OnA_Q^A-0^*-c7 - f&x-*/1—*
ck^ <-&■ ciaLW ^ ^ <n~Mpr
41
BAXTER MORTON
COUNSELOR AT LAW
PATENTS and PATENT CAUSES
NEW YORK
F-I'. Dyer, Esq. ,
General Counsel,
Edison Ufg. Co.,
Orange, N.J.
/-August 5th, 1908.
My dear Mr. Byert- ■'
I have before me a letter from Mr. Xyek, dated August 4th, relative
to the patent situation, and bog to say that the exchange of licenses outlined in his
letter is entirely satisfactory to me. 1 suppose the actual drawing of the licenses
may as well go over until Mr. Dyke’s return.
Yours
ih~y
'y\jbzJ) 'K&4'
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LEGAL DEPARTMENT RECORDS
MOTION PICTURES - CASE FILES
This material consists of correspondence, court documents, and other
items relating to infringement suits, antitrust suits, and copyright actions
involving motion pictures. Most of the selected items cover the years 1 902-
1910, but some case files are from the 1910s. Several cases relate to
alleged copyright infringements. Others deal with suits brought by the Motion
Picture Patents Co. against unlicensed manufacturers for infringement of
Woodville Latham's U.S. Patent 707,934. Also included are several suits
brought against the Motion Picture Patents Co., the General Film Co., and
their licensed manufacturers by independent motion picture exhibitors and
by the federal government. Closely related cases have been grouped in the
same folder.
American Mutoscope & Blograph Company v. Edison Manufacturing Company
This folder contains material pertaining to a suit brought by the American Mutoscope &
Biograph Co. against the Edison Manufacturing Co. in the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of New
Jersey. The case was initiated in November 1904 and involved the alleged infringement of
Biograph's copyright for the film, Personal. The selected items include the bill of complaint and
affidavits by the complainant and defendant.
Armat Moving Picture Company v. Edison Manufacturing Company
This folder contains material pertaining to the suit brought by the Armat Motion Picture Co.
against the Edison Manufacturing Co. in the U.S. Circuit Court for the Southern District of New
York. The case was initiated in 1902 and later heard in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It
involved the alleged infringement of U.S. Patent 586,953 issued to Thomas Armat and C. Francis
Jenkins. The selected items include affidavits by Edison, William Heise, John F. Ott, and others
for the defense, along with correspondence between attorneys on both sides of the case
regarding possible settlements and cross-licensing agreements.
Thomas A. Edison v. Sigmund Lubln
This folder contains material pertaining to the suit brought by Edison against Sigmund
Lubin in the U.S. Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The case was initiated in
June 1902 and involved the alleged infringement of Edison's copyright on the film, Christening and
Launching Kaiser Wilhelm's Yacht Meteor. The selected items include the bill of complaint and
brief for complainant, along with correspondence regarding the case and its subsequent appeal
to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and then to the U.S. Supreme Court. Also selected is the
decision of the appellate court, which reversed the decision of the lower court and established that
motion pictures could be protected in the same way as still photographs under the Copyright Act
of 1865.
Greater New York Film Rental Company v. Motion Picture Patents Company et al.
Greater New York Film Rental Company v. General Film Company et al.
This folder contains material pertaining to suits brought by the Greater New York Film
Rental Co. against the Motion Picture Patents Co. (MPPCo) and the General Film Co. in the State
of New York and in the federal courts. Other defendants included Thomas A. Edison, Inc., the
Edison Manufacturing Co., the American Mutoscope & Biograph Co., and other manufacturers
licensed by MPPCo. The cases were initiated in 1911 and 1914 and involved disputes over
licenses and allegations of monopoly against MPPCo and the General Film Co. The selected
items are primarily from a printed record in the state case: Summons, Complaint, Affidavits,
Injunction and Order to Show Cause. Several pages bear marginal notations by Edison. Also
included are a few letters regarding the eventual settlement of the federal suit by decree in 1916.
Motion Picture Patents Company v. Independent Moving Picture Company of America
This folder contains material pertaining to the suit brought by the Motion Picture Patents
Co. against the Independent Moving Picture Co. in the U.S. Circuit Court for the Southern District
of New York. The case was initiated in February 1910 and involved the alleged infringement of
Woodville Latham's U.S. Patent 707,934. The selected items are from the complainant's record
and consist of the index, bill of complaint, and testimony of William K. L. Dickson.
Motion Picture Patents Company v. Universal Film Manufacturing Company et at.
Jesse Isldor Straus et at. v. Victor Talking Machine Company
This folder contains two U.S. Supreme Court opinions of April 9, 1917. The first pertains
to the suit brought by the Motion Picture Patents Co. against the Universal Film Manufacturing Co.
and other defendants for infringement of Woodville Latham's U.S. Patent 707,934. The second
relates to the suit brought by Jesse Isidor Straus and other plaintiffs against the Victor Talking
Machine Co. Both opinions became legal precedents, barring the license agreements used by the
Motion Picture Patents Co. and Thomas A. Edison, Inc., to fix prices and otherwise limit the use
or sale of their products. Both opinions contain marginal notations, some probably by Edison.
Richard F. Outcault v. Edison Manufacturing Company and Perclval L Waters
This folder contains material pertaining to the suit brought by cartoonist Richard F. Outcault
against the Edison Manufacturing Co. and Perdval Waters of the Kinetograph Co. in the U.S.
Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York. The case was initiated in April 1904 and
involved the alleged infringement of Outcault's copyright for his Buster Brown cartoon. The
selected items include an Outcault cartoon and a description of a motion picture based on the
cartoon, along with the bill of complaint and affidavits by Waters and Edwin S. Porter.
Triple Damage Suits
This folder contains material pertaining to damage suits brought against the Motion Picture
Patents Co., Thomas A. Edison, Inc., and other licensed manufacturers by the Chicago Film
Exchange, the Theatre Film Service of San Francisco, and other licensed and unlicensed
exhibitors. Most of the cases were initiated in April and May 1916, after the federal government's
antitrust case against the Motion Picture Patents Co. was settled by decree in February. The
plaintiffs sought triple damages from the defendants under the provisions of the Clayton Antitrust
Act of 1914. The selected items include correspondence by Edison and by Delos Holden and
Henry Lanahan of the Legal Department concerning the defense and the eventual settlement of
the suits.
United States of America v. Motion Picture Patents Company et at.
This folder contains material pertaining to an antitrust suit brought by the federal
government against the Motion Picture Patents Co. The case was initiated in 1912 in the U.S.
District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. It was subsequently appealed to the U.S.
Supreme Court. The selected items include the government’s original petition; testimony by Frank
L. Dyer at hearings held in New York City in November 1913; and memoranda from 1915 briefing
Edison on the progress and settlement of the suit.
James H. White and John R. Schermerhorn v. Perclval L. Waters
This folder contains material pertaining to the suit brought by two Edison Manufacturing
Co. employees, James H. White and John R. Schermerhorn, against Percival Waters of the
Kinetograph Co. The case was initiated in the New York Supreme Court for the County of New
York in January 1909 and involved kickbacks and conflicts of interest. The selected items include
the judicial finding from June 1910 against the plaintiffs, along with affidavits subsequently
collected by the plaintiffs in order to reopen the case and clear their names. The affidavits are by
Alexander T. Moore, the two plaintiffs, and their attorney, Selden Bacon.
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Case Files
American Mutoscope & Biograph Company v.
Edison Manufacturing Company
This folder contains material pertaining to a suit brought by the
American Mutoscope & Biograph Co. against the Edison Manufacturing Co.
in the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of New Jersey. The case was initiated
in November 1904 and involved the alleged infringement of Biograph's
copyright for the film, Personal. The selected items include the bill of
complaint and affidavits by the complainant and defendant.
£
Bo>C J%
'/?/'?/<><
United States Circuit Court,
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY.
AMERICAN MUTOSCOPE AND
BIOGRAPH COMPANY,. • / In Equity.
Complainan ‘
EDISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, ]
Defendant.
COMPLAINANT'S MOTION PAPERS AND
REBUTTING AFFIDAVITS.
KERR, PAGE & COOPER,
. Counsel for Complaint
I
Bill of Complaint.
said defendant in accordance with the prayer of the
bill.
And let the defendant, or its counsel, serve copies of ■
any pnpors it or they may have to submit upon the
return of this order to show cause, upon complainant’s
solicitors on or before Friday, December 5, 1904. 1 •
And let service of n copy of this order and of the ,
accompanying affidavits upon the defendant nt Orange,
N. J. on or before the 18th day of November, 1904,. be
deemed sufficient service.
Dated, Trenton, N. J., Nov. 12, 1904.
Wji. M. Lannino,
U. S. Judge.
Bill of Complaint.
To THE HONORABLE THE JUDGES OP THE UNITED STATES
CIRCUIT COURT POU THE DISTRICT OP NEW.
Jersey.
American Miitoscope & Biogruph Company, a cor¬
poration! organized and existing under the laws of the
State of New Jersey and having its principal place of
business in tho City, County and State of New York,
brings this its bill of complaint against Edison Manu¬
facturing. Company, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of New Jersey, and a resident of the
said State, and having its principal place of business
in the Township of "West Orange, in the County of,
Essex in tho said State.
And thereupon your orator complains and says os
follows : ,
I. That your orator is now engaged in the business
of making, exhibiting and selling photographs repre¬
senting objects in actual motion, and that your orator,
under its . present:, name, ;or.the name under. whiohi it
Bill oi Complaint. .?
was originally incorporated, to wit, American If oto¬
scope Company, has been engaged in the said business
for upwards of eight years last past. .
II. That on or about the 16tli day of June, 1904, your
orator became, tho sole proprietor of a certain
photograph . entitled “ Personal ", which said photo¬
graph was made at your orator’s direction and expense
within tho United States by a photographer in the' era- ,
ploy of your orator upon a certain negative film, which 10
said film was subsequently developed and tlio photo¬
graph taken thereon printed on certain positive films ;
and that your orator thus became the exclusive owner
and proprietor of tho said photograph on or about
the 15th duy of June, 1904, and boforo the same lmd
been published.
III. That on or about the 28th day of June, 1904,
your orator duly made, application to the Librarian of
Congress for the registration of a copyright on the py
said photograph entitled “ Personal ”, and such pro¬
ceedings wore duly had by your orator that on or
about the 29th day of June, 1904, your orator did se¬
cure a copyright of the suid photograph, pursuant to
the Act of Congress for securing copyrights which
took elleot on the 8th day of July, 1870, nnd the
amendments thereto ; that' the said copyright was
duly issued to your orator under the hand and seal of
the Librarian of Congress, and the original record of
said copyright is now in the Library of Congress. ; 12
IV. that the following is a true copy of the said pro¬
ceedings for the entry of the said copyright :
“ Library of Congress, Washington, D. 0.
Copyright Office.
, “ Dear Sir : — Copyright entry has been duly made
under date of Jun. 29, 1904, in accordance with your
application of June 28, /’04, for 1 title Personal.
“ Upon receiving this notice1 your artiole can be pro¬
duced with the statutory notice of copyright. ‘
nwo copies addressed : The Librarian of
Copyright Offico, Washington, D. 0., in £
with the law.
“ Respectfully,
Thouvald Soldeiio,
. Register of Cop
The Amemcan Motor cope ,t Biogiiaph Oo.
11 East 14th Street, New York, N. Y.’
. And your orator has annexed to this hi
plaint, and makes a part hereof, a certificate
right of the said photograph which is murke
plainnnt’s Exliibit Copyriglit Certificate”;
orator hegs leave to miike the said original
copyright, together with the. said certificate
this bill of complaint, and to be allowed to re
Bill 'of Complaint.
is mounted or printed, the followiuj
VII. That your orator is; aiwl ever since, the suid 29t]
y of June, 1904, has been, the proprietor of the sail
otograpli, and has exhibited, published, sold am
VIII. That the suid photograph was tnken by m
vision of the observer, the impression
is thereby given ; and- that the said
were taken on one negative consistin
of about 370 foot long, and that from
positive films of somewhat varying lo
Bill ’ of' Complaint.
6
21
man is overtaken
asion who ure so importunate in
■at ho i’b forced lo flee, and does run
with the . women in close pursuit,
estlio chase is depicted across the
i situations until at last the French-
Bill of Complaint.
I rights thereunder, to your . orator, the defendant
dison Manufacturing Company, well Uuowing the
•omises and knowing of your orator's copyright, and
illfully disregarding your orator's rights in the prem-
es, did, subsequent to, the 29tli day of June, 1904,
id nrior to the commencement of tin nit, without
iblish and
e, and did sell at its place - of business at
Irangej in the County of Essex and State
aey, and elsewhere within the United
s of Baid photograph copyrighted ns set
r orator, under the title of “ How a French
lot a Wife Through the New York Herald 27
Columns", or other title or. titles of like
XIII. That by i
graph-entitled "J
through the Nev
Bill of Complaint.
Bill ;of Goffipliiint.
the ’defendant linn imitated tlio said photograph pro
tooted by copyright to your orator, anti that such, soli
of the same is calculated to deceive and defraud the
pnuho, naturally has and still does mislead the public
loca so thocopms thereof so sold by the defendant
contain the same viows and produce the shmo offoets
ns the said photograph owned and copyrighted by
your orator, greatly to the diminution of your orator's
SftHl business and profits.
, ,XIy- ^ hy'renson of the premises and the wrong-
1 acts of tho defendant aforosaid your orator has’
“'I'™ t0 “mount of three thousand dollars
miS ( n,ld ‘V, l b?lnK inj',,rdtl l,y «'« continued
publication and sale by tho defendant of the said
photograph, although the defendant was duly notified
by your orator and was well aware a long time prior to
the commencement of this notion that the said photo-
graph had been copyrighted by your orator; and the
said defendant, ;Breatly to the injury of your orator,
has thereby unjustly and unlawfully made and still
makes great gains and profits which belong by right’
and according to law to your orator. . y 8
- - - ?a
Court to nccouut for aud pay over to yoiir orator the
gains and profits whioh have accrued to or been re¬
ceived by tho defendant by reason of the nforesnid un¬
lawful acts, aud all such gains and profits ns would
have noerned to your orator but: for the unlawful doings
of the said ‘dofon'dnnt, and all damages which your
orator lias sustained thereby.
, 2. That the said defendant bo compelled by an order
of this Court to deliver up to your orator all the copies 34
of the said .copyrighted photograph and all negative"
films thereof in the possession of the defendant or its
representatives.
3. That the said defendant, Edison Manufacturing
Company, its oIHuers, agents, servants, workmen, em¬
ployees and attorneys may be perpetually enjoined
and restrained by a writ of injunction issued out of und
under the seal of this Honorable . Court, from directly
or indirectly making or oausing to be made, using or 35
causing to be used, selling or causing to be sold any
copies of your orator'B said copyrighted photograph
not purchased from your orator.
Coni' AUVu^1'.0r'lt01' In'C3ent3'to Bouorabl,
Court ns exhibits m connection with this bill one o
the said photographs copyrighted as aforesaid by you;
orator and owned by your orntor, which is marked a;
one end “Complainant’s Exhibit Copyrighted Photo-
graph and contained in a metal box marked “ 4mori-
can Mutoscopo .fe Biograph Co., New York, No. 2934
3071 foot lengths, and also labeled “#2934 S Per¬
sonal ; and also the infringing photograph mahu-
factmcdnnd sold as aforesaid by the defendant which is
marked Complainant s Exhibit Defendant’s Film."
XVI. Your orator therefore prays ;
p !• Tlnit the said defendant Edison Manufacturing
Company may be required by decree of this Honorable'
•4. That this Honorable Court grant unto your orator
an injunction pcndaife lite issuing out of and under the
seal of this Court enjoining aud restrniuing the said
Edison Manufacturing Company, its officers, agents,
servants, workmen, employees aud attorneys in the
same manner and to the same effect as heretofore gg
prayed for in regard to a perpetual injunction.
5. That the said defendant. Edison Manufacturing
Company, may be required to mako n full, direct and
true answer (not however under outh, which is hereby
expressly waived) to the mutters hereinbefore alleged
as if the said defendaut’had boeu specifically inter¬
rogated ns to euoh. :
p. That your Honors grant unto your orator a writ
of subpoena ad respondendum issuing out of and under
Bill of Complaint.
67 ' ■" - — - - - - -
the seal of this Honorablo Court dirootod to the said
defendant, Edison Manufacturing Company, demand¬
ing it to appear and answer to tlid said bill of com¬
plaint, and to abide by such orders and decrees herein
as to this Court may seem just, and as the equity of
the case may require.
7. That the said defendant, Edison Manufacturing
Company, may be deoreod to pay the cost of this suit,
38 and thnt.your orator may have suoh other and further
relief as the equity of tho case may require.
Amemioan Mutosoope & Bioomapii Co.,
By Hamby N. Mamvin
President.
IiEim, Page & Ooopkm, .
Solicitors for Complaiunut.
Dubby W. Coopeii,
Of Counsel.
State of New Yohk, ) „„
County of New York, j 88 :
Hamby N. Mamvin, being duly sworn, deposes tind
says that he is President of tho American Mutosoope
* Biograph Co., the complainant named in the fore¬
going bill of complaint; that ho lias road the same
40 and knows the contents thereof to bo true except ns to"
those matters stated to be alleged on information and
belief, and as to those matters he believes it to be
Subscribed and sworn to be¬
fore me this 11th day of
November, 1904.
Hammy N. Mamvin.'
H. J. Collins
(SEAL) ; Notary Publio, 82
Affidavit of Frank J.
■State of New Yonn, f
County of New York. ) 88 :
Fmank J. Mamion, having been iii
posos and says as follows :
I nm of mature ago and reside i
hud am employed by the American
graph Company ns manager of the
One of the duties of my position
give my personal attention is the
rights of photographs owned by
pursuance of this duty I mailed tc
OougrosB on tho 28th day of June, 1
a photograph or reproduction of u si
tbgothor with the title “ Personal "
copyright fee, with a letter in the or
pared and prescribed by the Librni
requesting him to record the said oo]
In due course of mail, and within i
three days thereafter, I recoived fro
Congress an acknowledgment in th
the receipt of tho application and
copyright entry had boon duly' mo
June 29, 1904.
The photograph sent as above
hy Wallace MoCutcheon, a
tlie employ of " the Amoricu
Biograph Company, on a strij
celluloid film about 370 feet long,
more than 5000 views, tho impressio
taken at a very rapid rate. The see
specially prepared for at the studio
Company. For this purpose specii
were employed to enaot the parts' of
the scones, and after the photog
3?v iT. Mairiori.
IY»T. Marion.
carefully designed and relioarsed before the pioture
could be taken, and after the photograph was obtained,
matching of the successive impressions to pro’duoe the
desired effeot required groat skill and experience. So
that most expert and skillful employees are required
not only for the preparation of such soeues as were
thus depicted, but the obtaining of the photograph and
the finishing of the film likewise involves great expense
and highly skilled labor.
1 The negative for tlio photograph entitled " Personal "
was tukeu by a series or mnohino camera, and repre¬
sents the scene sot forth in paragraph IX of the bill of
oomplniut. I attach hereto a copy of an advertising
bulletin descriptive of this film wh'ioh was issued by
tlio American Mutoscope & Biograph Co. on August
15, 1904, and I mark it “ Complainant’s Exhibit De¬
scription of Film
This photograph, or series of impressions, when it
has passod through a suitable exhibiting muohino and
as a succession of impressions thrown upon u screon;
produces a perfect illusion in a lifelike maimer of
the scene and notions intended to bo represented. It
has met with groat popular success and is in groat
demand by exhibitors.
The photograph was not published until after the
receipt of the notice from the Librarian of Congress
that the copies had been filed and the copyright re¬
corded. The films bearing said photograph before
being published or sold have boon stamped uonr ore
end with the following inscription: “Copyrighted'
1JU4 by the American Mutoscope & Biograph Co." It
was the intention of the American Mutoscope ,fc Bio-
gruph Co. not to sell this “ Personal ” film, but to rent
it only for use in theatres and the like, and had there
been no infringing copy made that plan would have
been followed, and it would have made us a greater'
and more lasting revenue from the copyrighted prop-
Bul aboufc tb° of August, 1904, my attention was
directed to the fact that the Edison Manufacturing
Company was advertising for sale a film entitled “How
a Frenoh Nobleman Got a Wifs Through the New
York Herald ‘ Personal ’ Columns I had known be-
foro that that the Edison Company was endeavoring to
. purohnse one of our films, suoh attempt having boon
made by Mr. Waters, an agent of that company,
through Mr. Steiner of the firm of Palsy & Steiner, at
No. 40 West ‘28th Street. Mr. Steiner made applica¬
tion to the Amorican Company for a copy of the film,
but was told that it was not for sale, boing restricted 50
to uso in our biograph inaohiuos in tlio various the¬
atres whore they are used. The film was then on ex¬
hibition in the Biographs nt tlio Keith Theatres in
Now York, Boston, Providence, Philadelphia, and in
other theatres ns well.
In tho issue of. September 17th of the New York
Clipper tho Edison Manufacturing Coinpnny advertised
tho sale of the film as a whole: Later, in the
issuo of October 8th of the same periodical, it ad- '
vertised the film for sale in whole or in 51
separate, parts. I append hereto copies of the said
advertisements marked respectively “ Edison Company
Advertisement No. 1 ” and “ Edison Company Adver¬
tisement No 2 ”. I caused a copy of the Edison film
so entitled' to bo bought, and I recognize that which is
identified in the bill of complaint as “ Complainant’s
Exhibit Defendant’s Film ’’ as being tho one so pur¬
chased from the Edison Manufacturing Company. I
also recognize the film marked “ Complainant’s Ex¬
hibit Copyrighted Photograph ’’• as one of tho films '52
mado by us uud copyrighted us above set forth. Both
of theso aro positive films ready for exhibition or other
publication.
After Edison first begun to advertise' the infringing
film we decided that it would be necessary for us to
sell too, in order to compete with him. We therefore
established the price of 15 cents a foot for the film,
And he soon after cut tho price to 12 cents. In this
way groat damage is done us. But besides this, other
special damage arises out of this infringement, for the
14 jy..JT. Marion.
matter of tho infringement was at once brought to the
attention of the Edison Manufacturing Company
through our attorneys Messrs. Kerr, Page & Cooper,
and every- effort was made to secure, by friendly means,
their withdrawal of the' infringing film, but without
avail. Our copyrighted film hud been so great a suc¬
cess aiid was so well known that when the Edison film
coutinuod to be sold without interruption it tended to
induce olliorBulso to infringe. In the issue of tlio New
64 York Clipper for November 5th appeal's an advertise¬
ment of S. Lnbiu of Philadelphia, Pa., of the “ Per¬
sonal ” film. Lubin has been a persistent infringer of
the copyrighted films of others, und suitsnre now pend¬
ing by us on copyrighted films against him.
I offer as an exhibit for use in connection
with this affidavit the Certificate of Copyright of the
photograph “Personal" and mark it “Complainant’s
Exhibit Certificate of Copyright." I also offer the
communication from the Begister of Copyrights dated
66 June 21), 11)04, a copy of whioli is embodied in the bill
of complaint, and I mark the original “ Complainant’s
Exhibit Notice of Entry.”
On November 9, 1904, 1 had a conversation with Mr.
Percy Waters, the agent of the Edison Manufacturing
Company, at the offico of that company No. 41 East
41st Street, New York City, in the course of which Mr.
Wnters said to me, as nearly us I can remembor his
words : “ We would not have copied your Personal' film
if we had not been forced to do it. I had received
66 letters from eight or nine managers demanding the
film. It wns up to us to supply it or lose tho business,
• and inasmuch ns you would not sell it to mo, wo had
to get one the next best way. It has proven one of
the best films I havo ever used. In several houses it
ran three weeks." I said to Mr. Waters : “ This is a
rather dumhging admission for you to make to me be¬
cause it will undoubtedly be used against you in a suit
we are about to bring against the Edison Company.*'
Mr. Waters replied: “I cau’t help that, facts are
facts.” Mr. Waters is, as I understand it, the agent in
E, J.- Marion. 16
charge of the New York office of tho Edison Manufact¬
uring Company. Ho appears to be, and is treated as
being, in authority, at its New York office.
Prank J. Marion.
Subscribed and sworn to bo- )
fore me this 11th day of >
November, 1904. )
H. ,T. Collins,
. [Seal.] Notnry Publio, 82.
68
Complainant’s Exhibit Notice of Entry.
LiBBAnY of Congress, Washington, D. 0.
Copyright Office.
DEAn Sin : — Copyright entry 1ms been duly made
under date of Jun.. 29, 1904, in accordance with your
application of June 28, /’04 for 1 title Personal. 69
Upon receiving, this notice your article can be pro¬
duced with the statutory motive of copyright.
Should a certificate of copyright be desired, please
remit for each entry the legal fee of 50 cents.
The law requires that two copies of tho best edition
of each article copyrighted shall be sent to the Library
of Congress. If you have not already done so, when
your work is printed or otherwise produced, send two
copies addressed : The Librarian of CongresB, Copy¬
right Office, Washington, D. O., in compliance with 60
the law.
Bespectfully,
Thobvald Solberg,
Begister of Copyrights:
The American Mutoscope &Biograph Co.,
11 East 14th Street, New York, N. Y.
lC 3?: J. ilarioii;
Complainant’s Exhibit Certificate of
Copyright.
Class H XXc.
1904, No. 47028. ,
Library of Congress, to wit :
Be it hememjiehed, ‘
That on tlio twenty-ninth day of June, 1904; AmorU
92 can Mutoseope and Biograpli Company, of Now York,
N. X., hath deposited in this Offico the title of a photo¬
graph tho title of which is in the following words, to
wit : Personal, tho right whereof it olnitns ns pro¬
prietor in conformity with the laws of the United
States respecting' Copyrights.
• ■ ■ Hebbeiit Putnam,
Librarian of Congress.
i By Thobvald Solbebg,
Register of Copyrights.
63 Office of the Register of Copyrights,
Washington, D. 0.
■ I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of
the original record of copyright. Xu Witness Whereof,
the seal of the Librarian of Congress has been hereto
affixed this eighth day of September, 1904.
Hebbebt Putnam,
Librarian of Congress.
By Tiiobvald Solbebo,
94 (Seal) Register of Copyrights.
Office of the Register of Copyrights,
Washington, D. C.
Form D.
From April 5, 1899, to Dee. 31, 1900.
, Written A. J. ,
Revised, J. W. J.
. FZ J. Marion. 17
~ 66
Complainant’s Exhibit Edison Co., Adv.
No. 1.
676 The New York Clipper. September 17.
Send for Net prices
new film pocket edition, Class A films, 16 cents
No. 226. per foot.
New film supplement No. 220. Class B films, 12 cents gg
Edison Exhibition Kinet- . per foot,
oscope, $115.00 Edison Universal Kinet-
osoopo, $76.00
Edison Films
Latest Feature Subjeets :
Two Pronounced Hits :
European Rest Cure. How a Frenoh Nobleman Got
a Wife Through the New York
Herald " Personal ” Columns.
Excruointingly Funny, Fine
Photographically. The
“ Personal ” actually ap¬
peared in The N. Y. Herald
of Aug. 25th, 1904. 676 ft. A.
Edison Manufacturing Co.
Main office and factory, Orange, N. J.
New York Office : 83 Chambers St. Cable
Address, Kurilian, New York.
Office for United Kingdom : 26 Clerkenwell
Road, London, E. C., England. bH
Selling Agents :
The Kinetogrnpli Co., 41 E. 21st St., New York.
Peter Bacigalupi, 786-788 Mission St.,
San Franoisco, Cal.
Hi'N..Mai>vin. !9'
*'■ Through the Woods ”, 75 . It ; " The Bail Fence”,'
T10 ft. ; i “Down the Pike ”, 65 ft: ; “ Caught at' Last ”,
95 ft, ■, ,
• Edison Manufacturing Co..
Chicago Ofliue, 304 Wabash Avenue.'
: Main Office and faotory, Orange, N. J..
New York Office:. 88 Chambers St„ Cablo. address,,
Knrilinu,. New York.
Office for United • Kingdom : 25 Oleikenwell Bond,
Loudon, E. 0... England.
. ■ . Soiling Agents:.
The Kinetograpli. Co. , 41 E, 21st St., Now York.
• Peter Baeigalnpi, 786-788 Mission St., San Fran-
cisco, Cal. ,
Affidavit of Harry N. Marvin.
Static op New Yoiik, J
County of New York. $ 88 '
Hahiiv N. Makvin, being duly sworn, deposes and
S(vys as follows :
: I am of mature age and reside in New York City.
I am President of the American Mutoscope & Biograph
Company above named. I- attach hereto as oxhibits
tho certificate of organization of the Ainorican Mnto-
scope Company, tho certificate of change of name of
American Mutoscope Company to American Muto-
scopo & Biograph Company, mid tho certificate of the
incorporation, of the Edison Manufacturing Company,
and mark them respectively “ Complainant’s Exhibit
Complainant’s Charter ”, “ Complainant’s Exhibit Cer¬
tificate of Change of Name ” and •“ Complainant’s Ex¬
hibit Defendant’s Charter ”. My company, under its
present name and under the name used for it when
incorporated, has been foi" about eight years past on-
gagpd in the business of making, using and selling
photographs: representing ..objects in actual motion:.
ff; N. Marvin.
For carrying on that business the said conipahy.maiu-
tains in New York City a salesroom and Btudio. Its!
studio lias beeu fitted up at very large expense with all
tbo appliances, .apparatus and , materials for the, pro¬
duction of. photographs of the kind described'. In pro¬
ducing them it. is necessary to provide not only the
photographing apparatus and materials aud to employ
skilled and experienced artists for the manipulation of
the apparatus, but also to maintain a complote theatrical
and stage equipment and. setting for scenes to be de¬
picted, together with competent actors nud pnn-
tomimists to enact the scones sought to be photo¬
graphed, in addition to which we employ at large
salaries skillful assistants for the conception, .arrunge-
mont, sotting and rehearsal of the scones to be pro¬
duced, Besides the studio whioh we maintained for this
purpose, and which is really a small theatre with all
the accessories aud uppliances, we have facilities for
enacting and photographing scenes out of doors at
<9 points aud places of popular interest, some of which
represent novelties, such as ' the launching of vessels'
and the like, while in other cases we have pantomimes
specially enacted in places either of popular interest
or of great natural beauty. The maintenance of ah
establishment for conducting a business or this sort is
necessarily very expensive. When the photographs
are taken and reproduced for uxlubition we rent the
filniB, or sell them, or both, for exhibition all over the
country.
80 ■ In order to get some adequate return for this groat
outlay we copyright substantially all of our films and
endeavor to comply with the statutory requirements
both ill regard to registration and to giving notice to
the public of our rights ; thus on every copy of a copy¬
righted film wo stamp notice in these words, “ Copy¬
righted by the American Mutoscope & Biograph Co.”,
together with the year of registration. It is our cus¬
tom, as in the case of tho “Personal” film, to stamp
this notice on the substance of the film and in a visible
and conspicuous place near tho front end thereof.
• Hi N. Marvin. : 2V
■ I am the same Harry N.- Marvin who oxeouted the
bill of oomplaint herein, nud I confirm all that is said
there, and offer that ns an affidavit for use . n the
motion for preliminary injunction which I understand
is about to be brought against tho defendant restrain¬
ing it, during the pendency of this suit, from further
infringing our copyright. I have road the affidavit of
P. J. Marion and confirm all that he says. The
facts stated by him are within my personal
knowledge, exuopt ns to conversations which he had, 82
and as to these I beliovo what ho says :
The film hero in question, tho “ Personal ” film, has
been a very popular one, drawing grout attention, and
for a time it brought us large returns. With the com¬
mencement of tho Edison Company’s infringement,
however, our profits fell off, and we have been com¬
pelled to compote with it just as though no copyright
The scenes which are enacted on our copyrighted
“ Porsonul ” film were specially created and designed S3
under the direction of Mr. Muriou. by our employees.
The photographing was douo on Julio 8-15, 1904, by
Mr. McOutclieon, one of our employees, with a ma¬
chine camera specially designed and protected by
letters patent, und all of these mattors contributed to
tho great expense incident to the creation of this film.
The action, so to spoak, of tho photograph is centered
about Grant’s Tomb, that being a place of chief interest,
aud without that thero would bo neither point nor
moral to the talo exemplified in the photograph. It is 84
this purt in particular that tho Edison Company has
chosen to copy most closely.
■ In our business we nro constantly producing films of
generally similar character to this one, and substan¬
tially all of them are being copyrighted. Unless strict
respect be paid to the copyrights our busiuess will be
greatly lessened and irreparable injury done us. In
the present cuse the film whioh should have returned
us many thousands of dollars has probably not earned •
half of wbat it would have done had not the Edison
Company infringed onr copyright.. The public with
whom 'we deal have been tanghtj so far ha wo;oould doi
ao by notice nnd thodiko, to roapeot copyriglita of this'
ohnvnotor. If it be found that they are' boing infringed)
with impunity, as in the present caso particularly, (for-
this is an unusually well-known film) tboBo who have)
heretofore used our films will bo induced to take' in-'
fringing, copies of them, which naturally can be made
at much less expense than ours. -
Hahiiv N. Marvin.
Subscribed nnd sworn to be¬
fore mo this, 11th day of
November, 1904.
H. J. Collins
(Seat.) Notary Public, 82
Affidavit of Drury W. Cooper.
State of. New York, ) .
County of Now York. J 8S
Drury W.. Cooper, being duly sworn, deposes and
Bays as follows :
I am an attorney and counsellor-at-law, and a mem¬
ber of the firm of Kerr, Page & Coopor, counsel to the-
American Mutoscope & Biograph Company. The
matter of tlio infringement of that company’s “ Per¬
sonal ’’ film copyright was brought to our attention
toward the end of August of the present year, nnd the
infringement seemed so palpable that it occurred to us
at once that it may have been inadvertent. Not desir¬
ing to involve our client in litigation if it could bo
avoided, wo called the matter to the attention of Mr.
Prank Tj. Dyer, of Orange, N. J., counsel to the Edi¬
son Company, .and laid the subject fully before him. ’
Considerable, correspondence passed between us and
Mr. Dyer, and. we had several, interviews with, him, all.
. D.iW.-'Ooopor.
looking toward the settlement of . the matter, but it
remained opou and unadjusted until. a few days ago
whan Mr. Dyer notified us, both by letter nnd orully,
that settlement could not be elfocted. At the > time of
receiving that notification I was engaged in tlie-aross-
examination of aii expert witnoss in uu equity suit on
u patent and my time was occupied for severs1 days
thereafter with that matter and with the preparation
of a motion for preliminary injunction in nnothercuse. .
As soon ns tlioso matters wore disposed of and I was
■ able to havo a full oxohnnge of views with representa¬
tives of my client, I took up tho preparation of the
.phpors in this case.
There has been no intention on our part to delay
-tho ussortion of our rights, but throughout tho whole
■negotiation with the Edison Company’s reprosentn-
. tivos we have insisted upon them ; although the nego¬
tiations were somewhat prolonged. That was duo
partly to tho occasional absences of one or the other
of the parties to tho negotiation from their place of
.business on vacations and the like, and partly to the
time necessarily consumed iu referring matters from
; counsel to client and back again to opposing counsel. .
: Drury IV. Cooper.
Subscribed and sworn to be- )
fore mo this lltli day of >
^November, 1904. )
....... M. Lawson Dyer,
, [seal.] Notary Public (70),
N. Y. Co.,
Rebuttal Affidavit of Frank J. Marion.
Frank J. Maiiion, being duly sworn, deposes and
I am tlie same Frank J. Marion who lias made uffi-
34' davit in this ease. I have rend what I am credibly in¬
formed and believe are copies of affidavits to be sub¬
mitted on behalf of the defendant and executed re¬
spectively by Thomas A. Edison on December 3rd,
• Alexander T. Moore, on December 2nd, Edwin S. Por¬
ter on December 3rd and Peroivnl L. Waters on De¬
cember fitli. 1 have visited u number of times the
office of the Edison Manufacturing Co. which is at No.
41 East 21st Street, New York City, and I beliovo that
Mr. Waters is the agent in . charge of that office, and
36 that he is the person in .authority there. On the \ out¬
side ' of the building is the sign “ Edison Mfg. Co.,
Kinetoscope & Film Dep’t.” On tlie elevator door at
the floor on which Mr. Waters has his office is the sign
“ The Edison Mfg. Co. Film Dep’t nnd Kinetogrnph
Co.” On the hall door of the office where Mr. Waters
has his desk, and of which he, is solo occnpnnt, is the
sign “ The Edison Mfg. Co. Projecting Kinetoscope
and Film Dep’t. Kinetogrnph Co." Mr. Wnters name
does not appear on the building, elevator door or
96 hall door. Mr. Edwin S. Porter is also an acquaint¬
ance of mine, and ho seems to act under the direction
of Mr. Waters. Mr. Porter’s office, or so-called studio,
is run in connection with Mr. Waters’ office at 41 East
21st Street, above referred to.
I observe that Mr. Edison states in his affidavit that
righted photograph of ours entitled “ Animated Pict¬
ure Studio”. That it was sued in the above entitled
Court for that infringement, the case being entitled the
lame ns the presont one, and that no opposition was
made to the entry of a decree, whioli: was dated about
Tune 13, 1904, in pursuance Of which an injunction
issued aiid was served. Another case, similar to that_
just mentioned, occurred recently. By assignment
from one Giunnoud, this compnuy became the pro¬
prietor of a photograph entitled “ Three Little Maids ” ;
this was copyrighted by uS on July 13, 1904. On
October 29, 1904, the Edison Mfg. Co. advertised in
tho Now York Clipper the sale of the same film. My
best information is that the foreign agents of the
Edison Company secured an original of this film and
sent it over to the defendant who made a duplicate'
negative therefrom, ' from whioli negative, positive'
copies were made for use and distribution. _
In the affidavit of Mr. Porter, taken on behalf of tho
defendant, it is stated that “tho usual practice is to
use a now film . for enoli scene, unless .the
scenes are short nud taken at the same or
adjacent points..” This is quite mislending)
for any number of scenes maybe taken upon a single
film, tho only limitation being tlio length of tho Him
manufactured by the Enstmau Kodak Company, which
has a substantial monopoly in tho production of these
films, and from whioli substantially all film users in
this country purchase. Tlie length of tlie film has
nothing to do with the artistic or photographic aspect.
It is true that the photographer will ondeavor to judge
tho length of his film in such a way that the taking of
uny one scone is not interrupted by reaching the end
of the film. Other than this, it is the custom to con¬
tinue to photograph as long as tho film lasts.
I observe that Mr. Porter says " such a series of
scenes, however, is really an aggregation of several se¬
ries of negative impressions, each series constituting
ono' pliotograph and each scene is generally sold sep-
separately, but sells the pilot
tiroty. Besides this, the Edi
formed and believe, lias oausi
ing a serios of seeuos, to be
This, X understand, is win
fendant’s Him sued on in this
I observe til at Mr. Porter
Whatever Mr. Porter s Company may do m that
, it is not true of my company. We do
seleot the persons who have noted, for
. His citation of the production by
f the film like his “ Bowery Kiss ” is
ding. In that case, the characters to whom he'
came to our studio nnd represented that they
egular vaudeville performers, uud said that they
;ed the act ill question in concert halls and the
nd they offered to let us photograph their aot
5. They did not any, nor did we know, that the
a Company had photographed them ill the act.
;reod to thoir proposition uud produced the film,
informed and bolievo that t-lio Edison Company
is referred to, ana
Tlio idea was origii
me. I will lioro i
wording of tho “ P
pictud in the film i
raudnm to which I
appears in the p
former affidavit in
•' Complainant’s X
tho defendant’s till
same, is tlioir advi
of that, except for
F. J„ Marion.
to be correct in nil substantial uud mutorinl rospeets.
That memorandum rends ns follows.:
" November 9th, 1904, )
' . Time— 2.45 $
. “I have just returned from the office of the Edison
Mfg. Company at No. 41 Enst 21st Street, and upon
the udvioo of Mr. Page of Kerr, Page & Cooper, am-
dictating certain parts of the conversation wliioh oc¬
curred there bn tween myself and Mr. Poroy Waters,
the agent of tlie Edison Mfg, Co, of Orange, N, J. I
lm doing this in order that I may havo a rooord of the
conversation while it is perfectly fresh in my mind.
“Mr. Waters said to mo “ we would not have copied
your ‘ Personal ’ film if wo had not been forced to, do
it. I had received lottors from 8 or 9 managers de¬
manding the film. It was up to us to supply it, or
lose the business, and inasmuch as you would not soil
it to mo, I had to get one tlio next best way. It lias
proven one of tho best films I have ever used. In
several houses it ran three weeks.’ I said to Mr.
Waters, this is a ' rather damaging admission for yon to
make to me because it will undoubtedly bo used against
you in a suit which wo arc about to bring against the
Edison Company. Mr. Waters replied “ I can’t help
shat, — facts are facts.' " '
Frank J. Marion.
H. N. Marv
Rebuttal Affidavit of H
State of New York, i S8 .
County of New York. V
Harry N. Marvin, being du
says :
I have already made affidavit
read the affidavit of Mr. Marie
havo also read what I believe'
fondant’s affidavits heroin.
My information' ns to tho
Porcival Waters and tho Edii
same oll'eot us has been stated 1
I confirm as boiug true of j
that Mr, Marion says regardiii]
Edison Company, with reforei
and all matters which lie states
and the production of our film
I desire to confirm speoifioal
about tho production of the
Marion originates a great mi
for films of the character of t
of tho photograph “ Personal
scription or sketch of the ac
fcraved. including a supposed
mg. The facts are as Mr.. Marion has stated and' as I
have stated.
I am familiar with the facts regarding the " Bowery
Kiss ”, “ Tramp’s Skato “ Animated Picture; Studio "
and “ Three Little Maids " films, and I ooufirm. wlmt
Mr. Marion Bnys regarding them.
Haiuiv N. Mahvik.
Snbsoribod and sworn to be¬
fore me this 17tli day of
December, 1904..
H. J. Collins,
(Seal) Notary Public, 81,
N. Y. Co.
Rebuttal Affidavit of Wallace
MeCnteheon.
State op New Yoke, > . .
County of New York, i 8 '
Wallace MoOutcheon, being duly sworn, deposes
and says :
I am of mature age and reside at
I am the photographer for the Ameri¬
can Mutoscope & Biograph Co. I have read Mr.:
Marion’s affidavit in this matter and what I believe to
be conies of the affidavits of the defendant referred to
of pictures suggesting the idea illustrated aud carried
out by the personal film, and I never said to anybody
tlmtl had seen snoh a paper/ I- don’t, believe su h a
one is in existence, and 1 novel- heard of it until it was
suggested in the defendant’s papers.' Onco in a conver¬
sation with Mr. Edwin S. Porter, who malms affidavit
for the defence, and whom I know personally, I told
him that I had had a sketoh or memorandum of the
film on my desk for a long time ; meaning, and intend¬
ing to convoy the meaning, that Mr. Marion’s sketcl:
or memorandum had boon on my desk for a long time
before the piotures wore actually taken, and such was
the fact, but I never admitted, or said anything wind
wiis intended to bo an admission, that Mr. Marion lnu
taken the idea from a comic paper, for such was no
the fact, bo far ns I know. , . .
The rural views for the " Personal film here in sui
were taken at Englewood, N. J., and Mr. Porter he
told me in conversation that he obtained that infoimc
(ion from us through indireot means before be took tli
pictures. I do not know where Mr. Porter got tli
supoosed information that they were taken partly not
Grantwood, V. J., and partly near Paterson. He cei
family had correct information ou that subject if, as 1
told me was the case, ho sent a man to us to ascertai
the facts beforo lio took his, piotures.
I never claimed, and do not now claim, to lm-
originated the idea or sketch of the “ Personal riil.
United States Circuit Court,
DISTRICT OP NEW JERSEY.
AMERICAN MUTOSCQPE AND BIOGRAPH
COMPANY,
Complainant, .
EDISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY,
Defendant.
Defendant’s Affidavits in Opposition to Complainant’s
Motion for Preliminary Injunction.
; FRANK L. DYER,
Solicitor for Defendant.
DELOS HOLDEN,
FRANK L. DYER,
MELVILLE CHURCH,
“inrifteb States Circuit Court
DISTRICT OP NEW JERSEY.
Amehioan Mutoscope & Bioohapii
Company,
Complainant,
State op New Jeiisey )
County of Essex. J 88‘ '
Thomas A. Edison being duly sworn on oath says :
I nm of mature ago and resido at Llewellyn Park,
Orange, Now Jersey. I am the President of tlio Edi¬
son Manufacturing Company, the defendant herein. I
have read tho affidavits filed in lielmlf of the complain¬
ant in this suit, and desire to state that Prank J.
Marion is entirely mistaken when ho states that Mr.
Percy Waters, or Poreival Waters, is tho agent in
charge of tho Now York office of the Edison Manu¬
facturing Company, and that ho is treated as being in
authority at its New York Oilico. Mr. Percivnl Waters
is not an agent of tho Edison Manufacturing Com¬
pany ; ho lias no power to bind the Edison Manu¬
facturing Company in any way whatsoever, nnd
the said company is not responsible for his
acts. His only relation to the Edison Man¬
ufacturing Company is that of a jobber
or dealer in kinetoscopic films. He purchases
such films from the Edison Manufacturing Company,
nud also, as I am informed and believe, purchases and
sells films of other makes, ns lie is not bound to deal
only in Edison films.
It has been my practice to copyright all films pro'- ,
duoed for and ownod by mo and to prevent the copy¬
ing of such photographs by unauthorized persons ;
and it lias always been the praotioo of the Edison
Manufacturing .Company to abstain from tho copying
of copyrighted photographs.
I lmvo been connected with tho moving ' picture
business for mnny years, nnd as far as I am aware it
has never boon considered that a copyright upon a
moving pioturo photograph covers the plot or theme
whioli the exhibition of the moving picture portrays.
For instance, n short time ago I copyrighted a film
showing the holding up and robbing of a railroad
train, and not long after this other moving pioture
dealers placed films on the market illustrating this
subjeot, hut which films wore not duplicates of my
film.
■When it was decided to produce a film to illustrate
the joke upon which complainant’s film " Personal”
is based, Mr. Edwin S. Porter was instructed to do no
copying of complainant’s film, but to portray in pho¬
tograph his own conception of the characters, cos¬
tumes, gestures, postures, etc., throughout the various
scenes, and these instructions in my opinion he has
faithfully oarrioil out, as appears by a comparison of
the two films, nnd especially a comparison of the
separate pioturos thereof.
Thomas A. Edison.
Sworn to and subscribed be¬
fore mo this 6th day of
December 1904.
J. F. Eandolph.
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT
Distiiiot of New Jeiisey.
Amebioan M otoscope & Bioobaph
Company, .
Complainant,
Edison Mandfactuiiing Company,
Defendant.
•In Equity.
State of New Jeiisey, )
County of Essex. } ’
Alexandeb T. Moobe, being duly sworn on oat
I am of mature ago and reside at Orange, Ne
Jorsey. I am tile Manager of the Kinetoscope Depnr
ment of the Edison Manufacturing Company, the d<
fondant herein. The moving piature films entitle
"How a French Nobleman Got a Wife Through th
Now York Herald ‘ Personal’ Columns,” and on sal
by the Edison Manufacturing Company are made froi
an original photograph or nogative designed nnd take
by Edwin S. Porter of New York City. The said phe
tograph or nogative is owned by Thomas A. Edison t
especially
Suoh pioturos are taken by means of a camera
designed and adapted for the purpose, by means of
which successive photographs of the same object or ob¬
jects are takon at rapidly succeeding intervals upon a
suitable strip of sensitized film constituting, the
negative, each exposure being for a very short
period of time and a largo Humber of exposures
being takon in a Beoond, so that moving objeots are
photographed in a great many different positions,
whereby when the positive of such photograph is used
with a proper maohino for projecting the pictures upon
n screen in rapid succession, the appearance of actual
motion is produced.
It has been a common practice among photographers
in tins art to produce moving pioturos by means of
such d camera placed in a single position, in order to
depict a single event, such as the launching of a vessel
or the run of a fire department. In this oluss of
pictures all the exposures are taken upon a single
sensitized Him, which is afterwards developed- into a
negative and from . which'a positive film is then pro¬
duced for the purposes of exhibition, and the back¬
ground of encli picture of the film is exactly the same,
except when the camera is turned on a pivot to a dif¬
ferent point of the compass.
It has also been a common practice to build up long
series of moving pictures in the following manner :
A number of performers go through certain acts in
pantomime and illustrate in this manner the plot of a
theme, story, joke or play composed of a number of
different scenes, taken often at widelv senarated view
"11 ore tiio view points nro widely separated, nil of the
pictures are seldom tuken the sumo day, and the differ¬
ent scenes are almost invariably taken upon different
films. Furthermore, the photographer generally aims
to take more exposures than are ueoessary, in order •
that ho may trim off some of the piotures from both
ends of the film and thereby produce wliut he consid¬
ers ii fittiug and attractive beginning and end to the
soene. Snail a sories of moving picture scones is tliero-
ture linn. I remember another film in
pocket is pursued, auother in wliiah poi
sued and another in which train robber
In the two former films the scones are 1
while in the two latter, the scenes occur
Another fact made obvious by the exh
plaiuaut's film was the fact that it wi
a single photograph, siuoo the vie
pictures occupied three different days. My opinion is
tlnit four or five separate sensitised films were used,
and that these films contain as many ns five or six dif¬
ferent series of impressions, each portraying a different
scene.
A short time nfter seeing the said exhibition, in a
conversation with one of the talent or performers in
pantomimes for moving piotiiros, I was informed that
complainant’s film “ Personal ” was merely the acting
comio paper, ai'id that the said performer lias seen this
paper on the desk of Wallace MoOutoheon, a pho¬
tographer in the employ of the American Mutoscope & ■'
Biograpli Compnny.
It occurred to me nfter seeing the exhibition of
ooinplainunt's film " Personal ’’—that I could design a
set of photographs based upon the same joke,
and which, to my mind would possess greater
artistic merit. My conception of the principal
81 cliaractor rem-esentintr the Frmioh 'Wnlilumnn u-na
for ine1 and at the expense of the owner of the- film St
which I produoed. My photograph is not a copy,
hut tin original. It onrries out my own idea or con¬
ception of how the characters, especially tile Fronoh
Nobleman, should appear, ns to costume, appearance,
expression, figure, bearing, posing, gestures, postures
and action. Complainant’s Frenchman is short, mine
is tail ; theirs rlreBses in poor taste, mine dresses in
good taste j theirs presents an undignified appearance,
mine is of gracious and gentlemanly bearing. Theirs
looks and behaves like a. monkey— mine like a gentle- 31
man. Those differences I believe I have made ap¬
parent in every picture of the series, by menus of the
buuI costnino, poses, postures, notion, etc.
The first pantomime for my photograph was enacted
at my studio situated in New York City and shows the
principal character looking for his personal in the
Herald whiuli. ho finds and peruses with interest ; lie
then puts the finishing touohes to his costume in order
to Bet out for tho mooting place. This scene enables
as great as aud probably greater than that of complain¬
ant’s film, since it is purely and entirely an original —
not a duplicate, and portrays more separate scenes.
This photograph or series of photographs was pro¬
duced by me for Thomas A. Edison of Orange, New
Jersey, to whom I assigned my entire right, title and
interest in the same.
This set of photographs has been placed on the
market by the Edison Manufacturing Company under
the title— "How a Frenoh Nobleman Got a Wife
Through the New York Herald Porsonal Columns.”
Not long after it appeared, X lmd, a conversation with M iv
Wallace MoOutohoon, Complainant’s photographer, in
wliioh lie remarked that I had taken the idea of this '
film from complainant’s film entitled — “ Personal.” I
replied that they could not oomplain on that account,,
because they had taken the idea from a comio paper ;
Mr. McCntckeon admitted to mo that this was the case ;
that Mr. Harry N. Marvin the President of the Ameri¬
can Mutoscope & Biograpli Company had shown him
the paper and suggested that he get up a film along,
the lines illustrated therein.
Edwin S. Porter.
Sworn to and subscribed be¬
fore me this 3rd day of
December, 1904.
J. P. Randolph,
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT,
American .Motoscope & Bioqraph 1
Edison Manupaotuiiinq Company, I
Defendant. I
•Peroival L. Waters, being duly sworn, on oath
says : I am of mature age and reside iii New York
City. My 'occupation is that of an exhibitor and dealer
in moving picture films. I am not employed by the
Edison Manufacturing Company nnd am hot an agent
of said company. I-liavo no power to bind the said
company by contract or otherwise, nnd the said com¬
pany is not responsible for my acts or doings. My
only relation to the Edison Manufacturing Company is
that of a jobber hnndlimi films ummifimtiirnd hv llmm
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Case Files
Armat Moving Picture Company v. Edison Manufacturing Company
This folder contains material pertaining to the suit brought by the Armat
Motion Picture Co. against the Edison Manufacturing Co. in the U.S. Circuit
Court for the Southern District of New York. The case was initiated in 1 902 and
later heard in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It involved the alleged
infringement of U.S. Patent 586,953 issued to Thomas Armat and C. Francis
Jenkins. The selected items include affidavits by Edison, William Heise, John
F. Ott, and others for the defense, along with correspondence between
attorneys on both sides of the case regarding possible settlements and cross-
licensing agreements.
SoX 773
United States Circuit Court,
Southern District of New York.
ARMAT MOVING .PICTURE COMPANY,
Complainant,
EDISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
• ' Defendant:
Defendant’s Affidavits in Opposition to Motion
for Preliminary Injunction:-
' ; RICHARD N. DYER,. i
... Of Counsel for Defendant.
T. A. Edison.
UNITED STATES OIROUIT COURT,
Southern District op New York.
Armat Moving Picture Company
Edison Manufacturing Company.
In Equity,
Affidavit of Thomas A. Edison.
State op New Jersey, )
7 County of Essex, j 8B- ;
** ■>»■»“> -
^ The living picture business of. the defendant is bas<
uy‘"V0 °M ?d lmte“ts- is «* continuatic
of the commercial business which I started in tl
spring of 1894. Most of the facts regarding m^vo!
patent No. 589,108 against the American Mutoseo^
Company and I refer the Court to the record of the
case ior tuese facts.
I have read the patent here in suit granted tn To,,
mdconlA!'mtttVilndIIlaV° al80 read file-wrappe
' It ! ? 7 TMer °f tlmt P“‘«nt, which np
poai m the defendant s record in the suit of the pres
w rsxr™1 *—■*• «-
ma0l,r "Woh 1 Placed upon th<
cri i wt,8?" °f 18W WaS “ direct-view ma-
Chine, in which the picture film had a continuoui
motion and in whioh u rotating shutter was em¬
ployed for cutting off the film from view.
Duo to the continuous motion of the film, this
shutter had a very small opening, which, ns I remem-
bor it, was approximately one three-liundredths (1/800)
bf tlio entire ciroumforeuco of the shutter. I put. this
mnohiue on the market to meet an immedinto demand,
but, as appears by the record in the kinetograph suit,
I intended from the very start to utilize my picture
films in exhibiting machines whioh would project the 10
pictures, greatly enlarged, upon a screen. Experi¬
ments looking to the production of sucli a mnohine
wore begun at least as early as the year 1890, and were
flamed on at first by utilizing ns an exhibiting machine
thodrinetographic camera of my patent No. 689,108, the
particular machine employed being the 1889 strip
kinetograph whioh was un exhibit in the kinetograph
suit and is illustrated by the photographs on pages
423 to 426 of complainant's record in that suit, In
: this machine the film-feeding mechanism was of such ^
character that the film was at rest for nine-tenths of
the time and in motion oue-tenth of the time as de¬
scribed in my kinetograph patent before, referred to.
When used as a camera, the machine was provided
with a shutter in the form of a disk having six open¬
ings, which were of about the same length as the solid
portions of the disk betwoon tlio openings. Six expo¬
sures of the film were made for each revolution of the
shutter, and consequently the film was exposed for
one half the entire time. In thiB machine therefore, ^
when provided with such a shutter, the film was in
motion one-tenth of the time, was at rest for niue^
tenths of the time, and was exposed for one-half of
the time, the interval of rest being nine times the inter¬
val of motion, and the interval of exposure being five
•times the interval of motion. This shutter is shown
in the photograph on page 423 of complain¬
ant’s record in the 1 kinetograph suit, aud
in .figure 6 of my kinetograph patent 689,168.
In arriviug at this form of shutter for the machine
T. A. Edison.
,T. A. Edison. -
ion used us a camera, I conducted a series of expori-
snts ,v,fch larger and with smaller openings, but finally
, d Pu tlle sliutter opened for practically ono-linlf
the time ns being the best for the muoliine when used
a camera and when run at the high speed at which I
i it, namely, forty pictures per second. In using the
iclmio ns a projecting exhibiting innoliine, which I
1 as early ns 1890, 1 naturally made similar olmnges
the form of the shutter so as to get the best results,
i used the machine for projecting purposes without
! shuttor at all, and also with shutters having a
inter opening than one-half. The machine itself
mg a period of rest to the film of nine-tenths of the
ic, made it possible to use a shutter whose opening
T larger opening allowed tc
ugh the him. These early experiments were
I by Mr. H . K. L. Dickson and other employ,
laboratory under my direction. They re-
the determination that a projecting exhibiting
or living pictures should be one in which the
in should have a nnvwl _ , ,
pose of giving the film a longer period of rest than of
motion was to permit u long exposure of the film.
The great success of the commercial business which
■was started on my living pioturo apparatus in the
spring of 1894, delayed me somewhat in bringing out
a projecting mnoliino, but I kept somebody aliuoBt con¬
stantly employed in the work of reduoiug to u com¬
mercial manufacturing form the principles of con¬
struction whioli had been demonstrated ns desirable
for a projecting inaohiuo by the experiments with the
1889 strip kinetograph. This work was transferred
from my laboratory to the fnotory of the defendant
Company and was there continued, the meolianie princi¬
pally employed on the work being one Simpson, who is
I recollect on one occa-
i of these machines ami
in the exhibited picture
told the media
'urther enlarge
lone before I
-Lius it* what the original specification means to nu
In February 1896, six months Inter, they inserted i
the specification the statement that the inventioi
would be embodied in o maohine with a shutter, fo
which there was no warrant in the original spooificn
non, and I observe that tho wording of tlm nlirimn
mum; a snucter, are to me readable only
with a shutter. With a shutter there is
of the light, which produces a roduoti
illumination, which does not ocour in
thout u shutter, where the ilhiminntion
tli while the film is moving and while it
it in a shutterless machine there is an oile
’ery much more objectionable than tli
or, which is that of ai
rf light across the pic
noveraent of the film
with my kinotograph or camera patent No. 589,168.
The oxhibiting-machiuo patent states :
“The means for advancing the film and for
operating the shutter to expose the pictures may
be the same in ull particulars as in the apparatus
for taking pictures described in my application,
Serial No. 403,535, filod August 24, 1891."
As the Court will see by referring to application No.
403,535 in tho record in the kiuetograpli suit, that ap¬
plication described and illustrated my camera just as
. it is desoribed and illustrated in my oumoia patent, so
that tho reference in my exhibitiug-mnoliine patent to
application No. 403,535 can be taken as referring to
my camera patent No. 589,168. Indeed in the original
application No. 403,534 on which my camera patent
issued, both the camera of patent No. 589,168 and the
exhibiting machine of patent No. 493,426 were de¬
scribed, and in connection with the latter the same
statement was made as to using the camera mechanism
in the exhibiting machine as appears in patent No.
493,426. This application eau also be found in the
record in the kiuetograpli suit.
Interpreting, therefore, the statement quoted from
my exhibiting-maohiue patent No. 493,426 by reference
to my camera patent No. 589,168, the following situa¬
tion appears : The machine of the camera patent is
one in which the film is fed with an intermittent move¬
ment, the film being held at rest nine-tenths of the
suvo 118 experience diotntes. With n camera nm
ipeod giving forty-six pictures per second and
oiduiaiy conditions of light, an exposure of oue-
if tlie time gives good results ; for different cou-
is of speed and light, a different exposure would
referable. So with an exhibiting machine, the
mr of pictures per second, the size of the pictures,
ogreo of enlargement, and the intensity of the
back of the pictures, are all elemonts which
the length of exposure. My camera and oxhibit-
inohiuo patents leave those things to the skill of
leohnnie in this art— the optician and the plio-
phor— as I believe they should bo left, the lnocli-
i provided being one which gives a nine-tenths
d of rest for the purpose of permitting “ as long
posuro ns practicable."
however, in the treutmont of this case, my
ra and exhibiting-muohino patents are to be
Tf, liowovor, the olnims of the Armnt and Jenkin
patent are to bo interpreted as covering a liviu
picture exhibiting mnohine provided with a sbutte
in whioli the shutter opening is more than one-hal
so that the period of illumination will exceed tli
period of obsourntion, then that invention was certnini
anticipated by the use whioli I made of my kiuott
graphic camera as a projecting machine in the yei
1890, whioli use was followed by a continuous line i
experiments, resulting in the production of a oon
ineroial projecting mnohine, having all the elements c
the Armnt and Jenkins patent when thus interpretei
in tlie year 1891.
Thomas A. Edison.
Subscribed and sworn to be- )
fore me this 10th day of >
December, 1902. ■ )
Riohd. N Dram,
; [seal.] Notary Public,
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT,
Southern Dibtrict of New York.
Aiimat Moving Pioture Co.
vs. .In Equity.
Edison Manufacturing Co.
Affidavit of -William Heise.
ate of New Jersey, )
County of Essox. { ss,:
William Heise being duly 'sworn deposes nnd says
follows :
C am 55 years of ago, reside in West Orange, New
rsey and am employed at the Works of the Edison
mufaoturing Company as an Instrument Maker and
perimenter. I started to work iu Mr. Edison’s.
• for the taking of photographs of moving objects, which
; building was mounted on wheels, so that it could be
shifted about to get the. proper light, and this building
.was known ns the “Black Marin.”
I worked with Mr. Dickson in this building operat¬
ing the camera for taking pictures and later, when Mr.
Dickson left Mr. Edison’s employ, I took his place in
charge of the takiug of photographs of moving objects
. and I also had charge of the developing and printing
plant for developing and printing the photographs. I
continued in this position until October, 1898, when I
• left the employ of the Edison Manufacturing Company
. and romuined out of its employ for about a year.
I recollect llie first camera which Mr. Edison lmd for
.takiug moving pioturos, employing a strip of film.
This is illustrated by the photographs on pages 422
to 424 of Complainant's Record in the suit of Thomas
A. Edison against the American Mutoscope Company
. and is there culled the 1889 strip ICinetograph. I,
personally, took many pictures with this machine, in
fact, my first work on the subject of moving pictures
, was with this machine.
The shutter with which this machine was provided,
had six oneuincs which had annroximatolv the same
film. When these machines
o provided with adjustable
nt of opaniug could be nd-
f light under which the nic-
the 1889 strip ICinotogmph was nsod ns a projeotii
exhibiting machine. I assisted in those experimon
wliich were carried on in the photograph building
io wore unsatisfactory
enrnnco of the pictur
bed that a shutter w,
i knowledge was embodied in the use of the loo!
Kiuetograpli as a projecting machine and thii
ne with n shutter which was opened for mori
, uo-lialf the time, was used frequently for pro
; pictures on a screen at the time slated. Thi
if improving upon this machine bb a projecting
the Edison Manufacturing Company ana was
tried on principally by Sim;
o nsod in his work the features of const™
lich had been developed by experiments wit!
39 strip Kinotograph. This work was being ct
by Mr. Simpson at least as early as the year
t his work being outside of my department, X
t in a position to follow it closely.
William Hei
ibscribod and sworn to be- •)
fore mo this 9th day of >
Decembor, 1902. )
J. 1?. Randolph,
[seal.] Notary Public for New Jersey.
tlie shutter which was finally adopted for the,
mnohine when used as a camera but under the
conditions uuder which the machine was designed to
work as n camera, the shutter ryhicli was finally
decided upon was oue having openings which would
give nu exposure for about one-half the time.
Cameras built lator but before the year 1894 on
the same principle, were provided with adjustable
shutters which enabled the opening in the shutter
to. bo adjusted for the conditions of light under 1
which the pictures wero to be taken. The 1889 Strip
Kinotogrnph had a film-feeding mechanism which
produced' poriods of rest of the film several times,
longer than the periods of motion. The 1889 Strip
Kiuotograph was nsed for experimental work to
determine the conditions which would have to be
employed- iu , the construction of a projecting,
exhibiting machine. This machine was used for
projecting moving pictures upon a screen in room 5
of the laboratory in the year 1889, before the moving
picture work was transferred to the photograph
building iu the fall of 1889 and these experiments
wero continued in the photograph building.
In these experiments as in the experiments with the
mnehiue when used as a camera, shutters with different
sizo openings wero omployed. Pictures were also
projected upon a screen by this machine without uny
j: r ott.
•F. P. Ott.
of tlio film and a abutter which would permit the light
to pass through the picture during praotioally the entire
time that the film was at rest. The work of improving
this machine and developing its construction into a
commercial and manufacturing form, was transferred
to the works of the Edison Mauufnoturing Company
and was carried on there outside of the scope of my
superintendence. I did not follow that work closely,
but I know that it was going on long before I ever
heard anything about the Armat Projecting Maohiue,
and, certainly, as early as the year 1894.
JonN P. Oxt.
Subscribed and sworn to be- )
fore me this 9tli day of >
> December, 1902. )•
J. P. Randolph,
[seal.] Notary Public for New Jersey.. .
64
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT,
Southern District of New York.
6l
Aiihat Moving Picture Co.
Edison Manufacturino Co.
■In Equity.
66
Affidavit of Frederick P. Ott.
State op New Jersey, >
County of Essex, j 88-:
Frederick P. Ott, being duly sworn, deposes and 67
says as follows :
’ I am 42 years of age, reside in West Orange, New
Jersey, and am an Instrument Maker by occupation. I
am employed at the Edison Laboratory in West
Orange, on experimental work for Mr. Edison, having
been in Mr. Edison's oinploy continuously for about
17 years. I testified for the complainant in the suit of
Thomas A. Edison against American Mutoscope Com-
-pany, which suit was on Mr. Edison’s patent on the
Kinetograph. I did a good deni of work on the 68
experimental maohines which Mr. Edison made for
both taking and exhibiting moving pictures. I assisted
in muny experiments with these machines, nud often
acted as a subject to be photographed. I well remem¬
ber the construction of the 1889 Btrip Kinetograph
about which I testified in the Kinetograph suit. In
tlwt.machine the film had a period of rest several
times longer than the period of movemont. The object
was to secure ns long an exposure of the film as
■possible.
r. p. otfc.
A. S. White.
Experiments were made with shutters having open¬
ings of different sizes, both larger and smaller tlinu one
half, but under the conditions of use of the
machine ns a camera, the shutter whioh gavo the best
results was one in which the opening was equal to tho
closure and this ; shutter was used iu later work with
themnohine as! a camera. Later oameras, however,
built on the snmo principle in 1891 and 1892, wore pro-
79 v,^et^ ,v'^' n<ty|,btnble shutters so that tho proportion
70 between tho opening and olosuro of tho shutter oould
bo adjusted to the conditions of light under whioh the
pictures were taken.
1 also remember the use of the 1889 strip Kin-
etogrnph ns a projecting exhibiting machine in tho
years 1889 and 1890. The firet work of this character
w«b done in room 5, of the Laboratory, bofore tho
the experiments wore transferred to the photograph
building in the fall of 1889 and later work was done in
the photograph building. In this use of the
n 1889 strip Kiuetograph as a projecting exhibiting
machine, changes were made in the shutter so
as to increase the amount of light passed through each
picture. Some trials were mude without any shutter,
allowing tho light to pass continuously ; others were
mude with shutters having large openings so ns to per¬
mit the light to pass for approximately tho entire
period of rest of the Him. The results obtained without
a shutter were unsatisfactory on account of the streaked
appearance of the pictures. This appearance was re¬
moved by the use of the shutter which, however, even
when having the muximum opening, reunited in reducing
tho amount of light, but this reduction iu the light
was less objectionable than the streaked appearance
produced when no shutter was used.
It was certainly well understood in 1889 and 1890 by •
those connected with Mr. Edison’s experiments on
moving picture apparatus, that a projecting exhibiting
machine should have u film feeding mechanism pro¬
ducing a period of rest longer than the period of
motion and a shutter which would let the light pass
through each pioture for practically the whole period
of rost, and this knowledge wbb repeatedly employed
in the use of the 1889 strip ICinetograph as nn ex¬
hibiting machine in the years 1889 and 1890.
Frederick P. Ott.
Subscribed and sworn to be- )
fore me this 9th day of >
December, 1902. )
J. E. Randolph,
[beal.J Notary Public for New Jersey.
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT,
SoUTHEltN DISTRICT OF New YORK.
Armat Movino Picture Company
Edison Manufacturing Company.
Affidavit of Arthur S. White.
Arthur S. WHrrE, being duly sworn, deposeB and
sayB ns follows :
I am 44 yours of age, reside in the Borough of
Manhattan, and am employed in the kinetoscope and
film department of defendant’s business, having charge
of the photographing exhibition and sales rooms of
the Company, located at No. 41 East 21st Street in the
Borough of Manhattan. In my position I am brought
^ S. White.
in contact with exhibitors of and dealers in Kvh
pioture apparatus 1 f lm ] „ ^
" f «» conditions oxisting'in the trade q"amted
Wnsh^tononthis .nission on NovoX- Vl«£
>x w co,nplaiuant s ollico, No. 627 E Street
me, both having made purolmses from me on behalf It
s “s “"T- >” « rz
itself out aXowhTtc °",L0 .Umt “mplaiuant held
80 01 ele So et: t ^ ^ b 8 **
a , ... tlos 11 “ Short Notice”, and iUV
- !fet0a7eoftl.e samemodelVns fut^sC^rr
i:S: Mr'isr;
machines “Kllf ‘ 1
1 S!l" 1)0 earners for taking
86
organization as would bo required to supply the de¬
mand if the defendant was enjoined. So far us I am
•able to learn, the complainant is making no effort at the
present time to meet the demands of the trade, aud is
not oQ'eriug living-picture apparatus either for sale or
for vent.
I attach hereto, marked Exhibits A and B, copies of
commercial reports ou the complainant.
. Author S. White.
.Subscribed und sworn to be- 1
foro mo this 9th day of >
December, 1902. 5
Jno. Bout. Tailor,
[seal.] Notary Publio, Kings Oounty,
Certificate filed in New York County.
Exhibit A.
AEMAT MOTION. PICTUBE CO.
Washington D. C.
July 6th, 1902, jjl 027 E. St. N. W., Armat Moving
■Picture Co., inquired for.
S. B. Dauiol is president, Tlios. Armat, Vice-Prest.,
Chns. M. Campbell, Trens., and W. G. Steward, Secty.
These with Prank K. Enymond and Walter H. Acker
form the directory.
Incorporated under the laws of West Virginia, May
2nd, 1900, authorized capital stock' $1,000,000 repre¬
sented as full paid and non-nssossible. Par value of
shares $20. Of the capital stock about 10% was trans¬
ferred back to the company and is being quoted at $12
to $14.
• The company owns and contrails the patents of Tlios
Armat in whose favor a decision was handed down by
the patent office Feb. 8th, 1900, giving him a priority
on all patents on projected moving . pictures. They
also brought suit in th0 (federal Court in N. Y. State
in which the dooision |,s»* not ns yet been handed
down and wlmt the unique will b» caunot be ar¬
rived at.
This company nhsorlmd the American ICiuetoscopo
Co., with all its intorom* stock for same. It is
boliovod they liavo snn,0 valuable patonts, though ns
long ns tlio matters roilmj*» •>* the courts they are not
in a position to push t|,i«i«rt- 11 is understood they
linvo invested iu plant ^“hinory, etc., about $35,000
with small morohnndis0 ((abilities, and as far as can bo
learned, payments havu satisfactorily met. They
seem to be in good standi*’® ftU<' ^mvB 11 £l,*r P'liut> ')u*i
tho bulk of their assutn „re io the P*lel)t ri®1>ts,etc.,
and no one will plnoo n pecuniary estimate on same.
The president is not l!110'™ here. Ho is a
resident of. N. Y. and Vioo-prosidQut of tho
Standard Eico Co., 0[ city. The Vice-president is
the inventor and patent* o£ the device and has been
engaged in the roal osi„l4, business here f0r somo years ;
not known to liavo anvil,}*’® financially but is in very
fair personal standing <f’lie ’Treasurer is a capitalist;
ho is interested iu real £n this city to somo ex¬
tent and was tho p(i,|tfipal owner of the American
Kinetoscope Co. St^.,.,.1 is employed in the pension
.office and is one of l|,0 .pvonfcors of the machine owned
by the old American jjj^tftoscopo Co. and is a man in
moderate cironmstun<sM< Raymond is a life insurance
.man, in very fair pomon'^l repute hut of limited menus,
mid Acker is a roal osla(<, mom in fair oitoumstanoes.
The company’s alfajw ,toaax to he earofuHy managed,
stand well at tlioir bilnK, and thought good for their
reasonable contracts, J P
Exhibit B.
137— 11-20— 02— Cor.
Ahmat Motion Picture Company
Mire. .
Washington, D. C.
627 E. St., N. W.
S. B. Daniel, Prest.
Tlios. Armat, V. Prost. '
Clms: M. Oampboll, Trens.
W. G. Steward, Sooty.
Directors tho above, with T. Cushing Daniel, Prank
K. Baymond and Walter H. Aeker.
They formerly conducted business under the style of
•Armat Moving Picture Co., but the Treasurer stated to
our reporter this date that they were now operating
under the style of the Armnt Motion Picture Co. Ho
further stated they had brought suit against persons
infringing placing their damage at §160,000 before
judge in the Snpreme Court of New York State, and
were waiting for the verdict from him. That they were
operating in a quiet and conservative manner, renting
their machines, and collecting the royalties from those
•using them, but that the business of the company
would not be pushed vigorously, until they learned the
decision of the court, in their infringement suits. . The
officials of the company were not inclined to give a
•detailed statement at present, as they considered the
time was not suitable for it. They, however, said they
were paying cash for their wants, and were not asking
On October 10th, 1900, Mr. Armat stated verbnlly :—
This company was incorporated under the laws of
tho State of W. Vo.,* May 2nd, 1900, authorized capital
$1,000,000, par value S20 fully paid in, and nou-ossess-
able, represented by patents. This company is a con¬
solidation of the N. Y. Photo Projecting Co., and the
American Kinetoscopo' Co. The assets consist prin¬
cipally of tho pnteuts of the two companies, and such
stock and plant ns belonged to the Am. Kinetoscopo
Co. at the time of tho consolidation, which I estimated
at about $25,000.
Those consulted sponk favorably of the invention
controlled by this company, and oxpress the opinion
that its officers arc handling tho same in a legitimate
manner, but as its assets consist almost entirely of its
equity in certain patent rights, no estimate of their
worth is offered. The President is a resident of Now
York, managiug the Standard Bice Co. Armat is tho
inventor of the machine, and Campbell is the ex¬
president of tho Am. Kinetoscopo Co., which was ab¬
sorbed by tho above concern. He is reputed a man of
moans. Steward is said to bo an electrical engineer.
T. O. Daniol is a lawyer by profession. Nothing is
hoord derogatory to tho integrity or staudiug and
ability of the officers and directors.
00—94 _ D July 2nd, 1902.
[21726J
CHURCH & CHURCH,
McGill Ruudino,
908 G Sirbbt N. W.
Washington, 0. (-May 9 ,
Mr. Frank L. Dyer,
Orange ,
N.J.
1906.;,
& '-’'Spit.
U)„
\90o ,•
Dear Sir!-
Yours of the 8th inst. , enclosing copy of Judge
Manning's opinion in copyright suit of American Mutoscope
Co. vs. Edison Mfg. Co. was duly received. So far, so good.
I doubt very much whether the suit will be further prosecuted.
If it is, I believe we can win out on the merits,- before
Judge Lanning on non-infringement, and before the Court of
Appeals on non-infringement and invalidity of ■ copyright. X
notice that the judge leans heavily on the Court of Appeals
decision in Edison vs. Lubin. If he were not embarrassed by
that decision I believe he would hold with us. We do not
deny that a positive of a negative may be copyrighted, where
the posing, etc. for the taking of the negative involved author¬
ship; but we do insist that one positive of many separate
negatives may not lawfully be copyrighted as a. photograph. I
am having a copy of the opinion made and will mail the original
copy back to you tomorrow.
Sometime ago, I wrote Mr. Gilmore asking him to make
an appointment with me and a representative of the Armat Co.,
Dyer — 2
In New York City, at an early day, to discuss a plan of action
for mutual benefit, in the moving picture business. Mr.
Gilmore's office replied that he wasaway from home and would
not be back until about the first of May, when I -would hear from
him. Up to the present time, 1 have not heard from him, and,
if he is at home, I -wish you v/ould jog his memory about the
matter. The Araat Company has taken on some new life and is
anxious to press to a hearing its suit against the Edison
Mfg. Co. (the one your brother Dick is defending) unless 3ome
amicable adjustment can be made. Mr. Gilmore will in no
way be concluded by discussing the matter with a representative
of the Armat Company and I think it good policy for him to do
so, as the outcome may be the saving of a good deal of expense-
of litigation.
Very truly yours,
EG
<
CHURCH S CHURCH,
Mr. Frank L. Dyer,
Edison Laboratory,
Orange, N.J.
views.
Yours truly,
*
W
ApriltS, I9fcf.
^ t M
Dear Sir:- V ^ ' X
Mr, Armat has an idea which he has given expression^
to in the enclosed letter, which I pass on to you for what
it is worth. Porhaps this may be a way out of the liti¬
gation, and perhaps not. I should like to have your
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[ENCLOSURE]
Arntcit Untintt jtrturg Qtompana'
Wjvsiiington, D. O.,
April l, 1907.
Mr. Melville . Church,
Me Gill Bldg.,
Washington, 13.0.
Deer Mr. Church *.-
The moving picture business has reached a point where I
believe large royalties could be collected under our patent, if the
Edison Company would join, or rather acquiesce in the matter.
The situation is this:-There have recently sprung up in
the country a larger number of Five Cent .Theatres. Some of these
places are elaborately and expensively fitted up. They are making
a profit of from sixty to five hundred per week. I believe there
are a thousand or more of them in this country today, and they are
rapidly increasing in number.
They each have a "local habitation ard a name", and are
therefore very come-at-able . They are a very different proposition
from the moving picture exhibitor of a year ago.
I believe we could collect a royalty of an average of
five dollars per week from each of these places without hurting
them. This would amount to 3 5000 per week.
If an arrangement could be made v/ith the Edison Company,
pending the final decision in our case, by which this could be
accomplished, v;e would be willing that they should get a large slioe
[ENCLOSURE]
Arrnat ilottnn prtitre (Hampam,
Washington, D. O.,
of the money collected. This would be 30 much clear profit to
them, as it would not affect their sale of machines or films in
the least.
If there are any special parties that they do not want
disturbed, this could of course be arranged. There must be a
large number of these people who have been more or less unfair to
the Edison Company, and this scheme would present a good oppor¬
tunity of getting bach at them. In fact I think it might be so
arranged as to throw additional business to the bdison Company in
the sale of machines and films, by handicapping Powers and hub in,
and other makers of machines.
I will be very glad if you will see what can be done in
this direction as soon as possible.
Yours very truly,
Melville Church, Esq,,
900 - G Street,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr, Church
Your favor of the 8th inst. is received
enclosing the letter from Mr, Annat. Perhaps I am more dense
than usual this morning, hut altho I have read Hr. Armat’s
letter several times, I must say that I cannot see vrtiat he is
driving at. If he will take up the matter again and make it
a little clearer I 'will he very glad to put it up to my clients.
Yours very truly, >
PLD/ARK.
CHURCH S CHURCH,
Washington, 0. o. Hay 7 , 1907.
Mr. Frank L. Dyer,
Edison laboratory.
Orange, H.J.
Dear Sir:-
Yours of the 4th inst. received. I enclose here¬
with a copy of a letter from Mr. Thomas Armat, together with
a copy of his patent 578,186, referred to therein. This
letter add patent should be taken into consideration in
arranging a plan of cooperation.
Yours truly,
[ENCLOSURE]
May 4, 1907,
Mr. Melville Church.
Me Gill Bldg, ,
Washingtob, D. C.
My Dear Mr. Church:
It occurs to me that my patent 578,185, a copy of
which I am sending you by same mail, could be used to advan¬
tage in connection v/ith the proposed Edison cooperation.
Every machine now being made in this country em-
ploys the small drum and the intermittent gear, covered by
the claims of the patent. *
There are four principal manufacturers of these
machines, the Edison Company, S. Lubin, N. Powers and a
Chicago concern, called the Optograph Co.
The Edison Company first brought out a machine hav-
ing an eccentric beater for intermittently moving the film.
was an oxact duplicate of the model 1 furnish¬
ed Raff & Gammon. Lubin duplicated this machine about six
months after its appearance. Edison then brought out his
present machine having the intermittent gear of the above
mentioned patent 578,185. This was about six months after
my for this patent* About a year after
this Lubin began making machines like the Edison machine iust
referred to, and about two years or more after Lubin, Powers
started in to make these machines and all of them have con-
tinued to make them up to this time and I believe that 98$
ln U4S® ir\ this country today are machines
employing the intermittent movement of patent 578,175,
1 Relieve this patent to be absolutely good against
all these makers, with the possible exception of Edison
inasmuch as Edison brought out a machine* before the issue
of this patent and it might be that he got it up entTrelv
independent of anything that I did, but I know the others
did not. Lubin was the first one after Edison to make
these machines and it happens that some time after the issue
of patent 578,175 I was in his store, and not knowing who I
t00k d0vm to his shop to 8how me the new machine
that he was then getting up. This machine employed this
movement*
n mexeiora seems to me that this patent could be
^Lantf^°USl?,U!ad in coi™ectlon with the patent we have be
suing under, if the proposed Edison deal is consumated.
Yours very truly,
THOMAS ARMAT.
Hr. Frank L. Dyer,
Edison Laboratory,
Orange, N.J.
pear Sir:-
I send herewith a copy of the outline of agreement
which the Armat Company is willing to make with the Edison
Company, in regard to the moving picture exhibiting machine
patents. I wish you would take this matter up with your people
and dispose of it one way or the other, definitely. If your
poople conclude to reject the proposed agreement, or one like it,
I would like to have you advise me to that effect, and then have
you proceed with the completion of your proofs, in ordor that wo,
in turn may complete ours and gat ready for the hearing.
The Armat Company feel that there has been a long and unprofit¬
able delay in the suit and that the latter ought to be brought
to a conclusion.
Yours truly.
[ENCLOSURE]
COPY,
The Armat Company to proceed against all Five Cent
Theatres, and similar places, and to collect royalties from
samd, the Edison Company to receive 25$ of the gross amount of
such royalties (or 50$ of the net amount). Such places as may
now be using Edison Machines, to have their royalties remitted,
if the Edison Company so desires. It is suggested as equit¬
able that in case the division is on the basis of gross receipts,
the Armat Company is to be allowed 10$ of gross receipts for
legal expenses before the division of 75$ and 25$ occurs.
If the Edison Company objects to suits against owners
of Edison machines as above provided, the Armat Company and the
Edison Company to agree as to what places are to be proceeded
against.
The Edison Company to agree to lease machines in the
future, instead of selling them, or to sell them in such a way
that they can control the manner of their use, and to provide
in case of Nickelodeons, and similar places, for the payment of
royalties. It is suggested that the Edison Company could lease
the machines for personal use for 99. years, for a cash considera¬
tion equal to their present selling price. The price bo re¬
ceived to entirely to the Edison Company, but the Edison Com¬
pany is to provide that -where these machines are used in Ni'chel-
odeons and similar places, royalties are to be paid, and these
royalties to go to. the Armat Company and the Edison Company as
above provided.
[ENCLOSURE]
In case by the above mentioned agreement, the Edison
Company should receive, per year, from the leaso of machines,
mors than they have received in tha past year from the sale
of machines, tho Armat Company to participate, in a proportion
agreed upon, in the profits of such increase.
NATIONAL
May 27,1907.
Melville Church, Esq.,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mi-, Church :-
Youre of the 25th inst. with enclosed propo¬
sition from Hr. Am, at finds me just leaving the office and
X expect to ho away all of the week. Mr. Armat 's proposi¬
tion cannot ho accepted, because it involves the payment
of royalties on Edison machines. I am quite sure that my
clients would go no further than to agree to an arrangement
under which they will take a license under the Armat patent,
giving to Mr. Armat such moral assistance as they could in
connection with his crusade against other infringing machines'.
Under the circumstances, therefore, I suppose there is nothing
to be done except to go ahead with the suit.
Yours very truly,
ELD/ARK.
NICHOLAS POWER COMPANY
MANUFACTURERS OB'
MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS
(Patent* of Nicholas Power)
116-117 NASSAU STREET
NEW YORK Noy 9 1907.
POWER'S OAMKRAGRAPH • *
FIREPROOF MAGAZINES FAOTOKYl 1*
AUTOMATIC TAKE-UP DEVICE
AUTOMATIC XTXjM SHIELD
AND ACCESSORIES
Mr. H. H. Dyke,
Assistant Counsel, •
Edison laboratory,
Orange , N. J.
My Dear Mr. Dyke:
Your letter inquiring about disclosure of a
star-wheel devioe whioh would probably anticipate the Armat
patent #578186 Just reoeived.
The data which I referred to in Bpeaking of this
matter was an early catalog iBBued by the Boston Gear Works
of Boston, Mass. I have not seen the oatalog myself but'
the Proprietor of the Boston Gear Works mentioned it to me
in conversation last week. I think a communication addressed
to the Boston G/tear Works, and saying that’ you had been re¬
ferred to them by Mr. Morton of the Nicholas Power Company,
would probably elioit the desired information, I presume
it is too late to obtain a copy of the catalog, but 1 think
that very likely Mr. Burgess would have photos of the pertinent
parts of the catalog made for you.
We should be very glad to co-operate with you in
fighting any suits based on the Armat patents to the extent
of procuring such evidence as we may be able to looate.and
will also be glad to co-operate with you in planning defenses.
.. , , „ Incidentally, one of our customers has just been
threatened with a suit under the Armat patents in Washington.
“5 *5 threatening suit it is stated that Armat
patent #586953 was sustained in suit against the American
I£?srapn Co** aa4 that a case on the same patent
th«iqnDtw«En^An,C2mp2nS was deoiaed by Judge laoombe in
District of New York in favor of the patent,
sSm© s^SeSfKd1 the conrt of appeais
own impression has been that no decision had been reached i?
the suit against the Edison Company and that, in fact, the
proofs had not been completed.
Regarding the proposition made by me when I oalled
to see you and Mr. Dyer last week, it seems to me that it is
highly. desirable for the principal concerns interested in
moving pictures in this country to get together as soon aB
possible and endeavor to formulate some satisfactory plan
of controlling the industry. The advent of new and irresponsible
concerns every few days convinces me that if something is not
done along the line of a consolidation the profits of the
business will be greatly diminished in the near future.
You can oount on me to acquiesce in any arrangement
that promises good results, and I shall be glad to go out to
Orange at any time .when other engagements will permit, to
go over the situation as fully as may be desired.
Another matter upon whioh you oan give me some infor¬
mation that I will appreciate is the EdiBon patent on the per¬
forated film. As I recall the conversation with Mr. Dyer
last week, he statdd that suits had been brought on thiB
patent but no one had ever made any defense. If this is
correct, why is the use of the perforated film permitted on
all moving pioture machines today? Are the film makers
operating under lioense or in defiance of the patent?,
I have 'heard of some other evidenoe whioh may be
of significance in the suit of Armat patent #678185, and will
follow it up on Monday. If it is of any importance I will
advise you promptly. —
Yours very truly,
NICHOLAS POT
?AHY.
1X6 Dassau Gt., New York, SJ.Y.
Dear Ur. Morton
r have written the Boston Gear Works along the linoB
which you suggested in your letter of l'ovamher 9, and hope
to obtain some important information from that source. We
have their catalogue for 1903 and find on page 9 thereof
a disclosure of the identical Btar wheel device used by
Armat, and if they issued a catalogue early enough to suf¬
ficiently antedate the patent it may be very valuable in
the defense of that suit. I thank you very much for your
kind suggestion reg^tdlng the Boston Gear Works and your
further statement that you have heard of Borne other evidence
which may be of significance in the suit on the Armat patent,
and that if it turns out to be of any importance you will
let us know. 1 hope your investigation will turn up some-
tiling.
Do you know of any books on the. moving picture art?
I should like to make a oolleotion so far as possible of
the available literature on this subject, and would greatly
appreciate any Information that would assist me in getting
together suoh a oolleotion. Among other things, I would
B.M. Esq.,-- 2— Nov. 12, 1907
like to get together as many catalogues a b poasihle, and
I would thank you very much for a copy of your catalogue,
'jAni, if it is not too much trouble, of any other stray
catalogues of which you may happen to have duplicate c.opies-
The threatening letter to which you refer, respecting
the Arnnt patents, appears to have been a little misleading.
As a matter of fact, in the suit against the EdiBon Company
a preliminary injunction was originally granted but on
appeal that injunction was dissolved, and since that time,
as you suggest, the taking of proofs for final hearing has
been carried on in a fashion which, on the part of the com¬
plainant, has been somewhat desultory, and the taking of
such proofs has not yet been completed.
My recollection ie not precisely clear on the
question of the Armat suit againot the Mutosoope Company,
so that I am not able to hazard a statement, as to what was'
the outcome of that case, hut of course you will have no
trouble in looking it up in the reports. The suitB brought
on the Armat patent,, no far as I know, have all been brought
by the Armat. Moving Picture Company.
Mr; Pyer has talked with Mr. Gilmore regaiid^gjfche* '
propositions which you have made and he approves of your sug¬
gestions regarding the Schneider interference, so you can
1(5!-.
go ahead with the preparation -of;..tho necessary papers.
As to the situation regarding the business comp^t'jltioq
lie has suggested that it would he well for you to take this
matter up and thresh it out with William I’elaer, T2sq., who
is at the Hew York Office of the Company, Ho. 10 Fifth Ave.
Mr, Falser is thoroughly conversant with the business situa¬
tion and between you and him the matter, it Beenm to me,
should ho workod out in ouch a way as to oaks the business
moat successful for nil concerned. The question respecting
the iJdison film patent can also ho best answered by Hr.
Pelzer who thoroughly understands tne situation with regard
to that patent.
Very truly yours,
Assistant Counsel.
Company, "both relating to the same question, namely,
making some arrangement with Armat so aB to control
the Projecting Machine business, it seems to me
that this is a good scheme if it oan he worked out
effectively. You know, I have already seen Armat
about the same matter, and he than had a very prac¬
tical suggestion. Possibly some effective plan might
be worked out.
I have not answered or acknowledged either
letter, but will do so after you have read them.
Yours very truly,
PLD/ARK. General Couns^
[ENCLOSURE]
[ENCLOSURE]
BAXTER MORTON
eAS3fiaj*»n»«»
Jan. 30, 1908
Mr. Herbert H. Byke,
Edison labratoxy,
Orange, IT. J.
My Hear Mr. Byke:-
Your two letters of yesterday just received
and I wish to thank you for your offer to place at my disposal
the catalog of the Boston Gear Norks, which you obtained sonc
time ago.
I do not know as yet what we shall do in
the Armat suit. I am inclined to think that it would he a
good tiling for the Nicholas Power Oo.' and the Edison Company
to join in the attempt to sustain the Armat patents rather than
to have them invalidated. I have told Armat that I thought it
would he a good thing if some understanding might he reached
with that end in view, and he seemed to think well of the idea
after I had pointed out its oommeroial signifioanoe, and nothing
further will he done in the suit against us until we have
thrashed this matter out.
I am. devoting what time X oan to a considera¬
tion of the soope and signifioanoe of the armat patent* and would
like to arrange as spon as possible for a oonferenoe with your
people to determine what is advisable under the circumstance s.
Can you arrange a meeting for me with the proper parties connected
[ENCLOSURE]
with your oonoam sometime next week to go into this matter? I
suppose you would want to have both the legal and commercial ends
of your concern represented, as both of those phases of the
matter will have to be carefully considered.
Yours very truly,
Legal Department Records
Motion Pictures - Case Files
Thomas A. Edison v. Sigmund Lubin
This folder contains material pertaining to the suit brought by Edison
against Sigmund Lubin in the U.S. Circuit Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania. The case was initiated in June 1902 and involved the alleged
infringement of Edison's copyright on the film, Christening and Launching
Kaiser Wilhelm's Yacht Meteor. The selected items include the bill of complaint
and brief for complainant, along with correspondence regarding the case and
its subsequent appeal to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and then to the U.S.
Supreme Court. Also selected is the decision of the appellate court, which
reversed the decision of the lower court and established that motion pictures
could be protected in the same way as still photographs under the Copyright
Act of 1865. The items not selected include pleadings and affidavits;
correspondence among attorneys and members of Edison's staff; still
photographs of the Edison film; and material prepared for later copyright
litigation over Edison films such as Jack and the Bean Stalk and The Great
Train Robbery.
Howard VI. Hayes Esq . , JiN 1 i ^
Newark, N. ,T . ,
Dear Sir;-
V/e enclose you herewith corrected copy of advertisement to
appear in the New York Clipper. Mr. Edison wished some chances
made in the draft which you gave our Mr. Shnttuck. All films manuf ac tured
hy us are not copyrighted, and you will notice we have changed the ad.
to read accordingly. You will also note that we have omitted the
wording "Who is the next man to he sued, etc." V.'e think this would he
liable to invite the public’s ill will.
JIW/
Yours very truly,
EDISON KANUEACTIIRINO CO}
Manager Film Dept.
JNN.
Type "Q" Cell,
EDISON MANUF AC TIJRINO COMPANY
WARNING
To FILM MAKERS ,. To The PUBLIC
All original moving pioture films manufactured by t,h* Edison Manu¬
facturing Company h aye been copyrighted by Thomas^ A. Edison An the Office
of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D.C. ,A11 persons manufacturing^,
selling or exhibiting spurious copies of these films. will be prosecuted.
Suit has been brought in the United Staten Circuit. Court for the Eastern
Distriot of Pennsylvania against 8. Lubin of Philadelphia for infringement
of our copyrighted film " Christening and Lamdhlng Kaiser Wilhelm's
Yaoht 'Ketoor'". We bee apeoially to advise the public that Lubin
has been making inferior duplioate prints of this film, advertising it in
his catalogues, selling it to the publio, and thereby leading them to
believe that they were buying an original pioture, while we have contracts
to show that we had the exolusive concession from the TownBend St Downey
Shipbuilding Co. 8hooters Island, N. Y. for making Motion picture* of thes^f
ceremonies. We shall prosecute vigorously all infringement of our
oopy righted films.
\
Dear Sir:
In re the Lupin case
I talked this over fully with Messrs. Edison and White
and advised Mr. Edison that it is your opinion that the case should be
taken to the Court of Appeals, and he agrees with you, so you can pro¬
ceed with this.
We shall continue to copyright sich films as we think it necessary
to copyright. It camot cost us a great deal of money, except for the
stook that is used, as the fee is very small. However, this is a mat¬
ter that I have yet to take up and discuss with Mr. White further and
I will write you about it, so that the next time I see you we can dis¬
cuss it again.
United States Circuit Court,
lias torn District of Pennsylvania.
Thomas ’ . Edi son
Siorjaund XuMn.
; In Equity
; April Sessions, 190?..
i No. 36..
Agreed Statement of Pacts.
It is agreed between counsel that this case shall bo heard
on bill, answer and replication, and that instead of thkinc Proofs
in the ordinary way the following facts are admitted to bo true
in the 8-r.e manner as if they wore fully proven by depositions.
Thomas A. Edison the complainant was on the first day of
February 1902, and over since has been a citizen and i osidont
of tho State of N« v/ .Torse:'-.
Jacob' Blair. Smith -tras on tho first day of February 1902,
and over sin-c* has boon a citizen and resident of the 'State of
New Jersey. . ■' ■'
On tho 25th day of February 1902 , a yacht celled the Meteor,
which had boon bUilt in the State of Hew York to the United Stab,
for Kaiser Wilhelm the Emperor of Romany, v/as launched at a
place called Shooter's Island in the State of Hosv Yorl:.' • The said
Jacob Blair Smith was on that day In the a,ploy.nont of tho said
Thomas Ai Edison and was employed by the said Thomas A. o.dxson to
photograph' the lynching of the ; said yacht by le ans of a camera
adapted for talcing photograph^-apid- succession from a single
point of view, Adapted for ropros anting successive positions of
a moving object or objects. The said Jacob Blair Placed
„ his camera prior to taking any of said photo(jraphit>d7 after be-
ing placed the position of the cnmora ms not changed excopt that
it was turned on its support by Dtvid Smith so as to keep the
moving yacht always in focus. T;ie sensitive film was placed be¬
fore the ions by mechanism operated by hand by said Smith who in
tlxevt way ro;ailatod the mi niber ''of ' exposures per second’ . In all
other respects the operation of the camera was 'automatic, por-
t paying whatever passed before it. Prince henry, the' brother of
liaison 7/ilholm, and the lion. Theodore Roosevelt, the president '■
of the United States, and his dautf'.tor, Uiss Roosevelt, were '
present at the said ■ launching, and photographic views of than were
taken, together with the boat during the said launching. The re¬
sult obtained consisted of about 4500 successive photographic
views each view being made by a comp! or o' and independent photo¬
graphic exposure, dll taken from the some point of view,' on a
strip of sensitized celluloid film about 500 feet long and about
an inch and a quarter in width. These views or photographs were
taker: in stupid succession arid show tho said Prince Henry rind the
president of the United 'States and his daughter on a platform in
front of the yacht, end show Miss Roosevelt in the act of Christ on
ing the yacht by brooking a bottle containing some liquid, and
then show tlie yacht moving down the" Ways' into tho wat or, the dif¬
ferent views showing ’different subjects in many cases. Immediate¬
ly this succession of views on the said film were taken, tho
nog^tivos v/ero developed by onployees of the said Thomas- A. Mi-
son and positives were printed from said negatives. The purpose
of printing these positives was to sell them to the public, who
by means of an appliance similar to a magic- lantern, could throw
these views on a screen in rapid succession so as" to give the
effect of actual motion, and show the said launching as it actual-
Tv/O of these positive films together with the title "Ohrist-
OuwS) du. SJ^0UBa2X<rf<( h^(v(' £<-*-
m'n Vsw.i-H- deposited
eninc and launching Falser Wilhelm'.s Ynoht Moteor"
by an employee of the plaintiff in tho Post Office at Ornngo, M.J,
on the B^tli tiny of February 1902 in an cinvolopo with postage -pro-
pni'cl, directed to the librarian of Congress at Washington, D.E,
and yarn roc oivod recorded nnd filed by tho librarian of Congress
at Washington, D. C. on o jr before the 20th day of February, 1902.
Tho said title was ' recorded and filed just before tho
receipt nnd filinc of the films. The said photograph or photo¬
graphs comp rising the successive views were not published until
' after the 20th day of February, 1902. Thereafter the said Thomas
A. Edison caused said photograph or photographs consisting of
tho said succession of viows to bo sold to the public in strips "
of either 100, 200 or 500 foot in length. At the' end of each
strip that v/as sold, loaned, given away,' or published ^t^him was
printed: or visibly in scribed on a celluloid film, pasted on ono
end of ..the celluloid fi'lrrt upon' which the said photographH-'wsro
printed, the words “Copyrighted 1902, bi^ Thomas A. Edison" .
This notice was, however, placed only at the end of each strip ■
as shown by exhibit 1, and was not, printed or inscribed on each
The defendant; Si remind lubin , thereafter purchased a strip.
of said positive film about 10,0. feet long containing about 1500
successive views ; which said strip at tho time he purchased it
did not- have on its oncV or elsewhere' the words" Copyrighted, 1902
T* fOOXbXUGO j
by Thomas A. Edison" or any, similar notice of copyright nor was '
the defendant aware of the existence of said cojiyright claim.
ter having purchased the said positive film the defendant printed
from it a negative film on a' sensitized colJ.uloid strip and from
said nogativo film printed positive "films on sensitized strips
and sold one of said positive films so printed by him, 50 foot
in length, to one .Tonies H. Kuulty, at Philadelphia, on the 12th '
day of April 3.902, and sent it to him by express, at Newark, Nov
Jersey, on April 15, 1902. He also sold to the same James K.
Maulty, at Phi3.ade3.phia, on the 29th day of May 1902, a stri p of
said positive film so printed by him, 50 foot in length which ,
together with the other piece ho had sold to the said Nc-.ulty,
made up a strip of 3.00 feet in length 'which ho, the said Siegnund
lubiri, had printed from the negative film made by him as above
stated.
The folloY/ing exhibits presented by 'the complainant on the .
motion for preliminary injunction, heretofore mride in this case,
are admitted in ovidonee. They are as follows:- :
Exhibit 1. A positive film 100 feat long, containing about ■
1500: views, which is identical with the film so3.d by Mr. Edison
as above sot forth and is identical with tho film purchased by
5i ega'UntV lufriri , from which a -negative film was made by him as
above described. It is also identical with part of the photograph
or succession of photographs copyrighted by Mr. Edison as ubovo
sot forth. "
Exhibits 2 and 3. The said two 50 feet films purchased by #
said Maul ty from said Oiogfimnd Tmb in.
‘ Exhibit 4. Certificate of the T.ibrarian of Congress of the
deposit in the library" of Congress ■ of the title and photograph
" Christening and ‘launching Kaiser Wilho3m.' s Yacht Meteor." The
samo bolus schedule ono unboxed to complainant ' a bill
Exhibit. 5. ProdoocUnl;i5 of the issue of copyright to the
said Thomas A. Edison of the said photograph, the sumo boinc set
oxit at lan;-th in parja^raplj 4 of cowplui. ant' s bill.
Counsel for Thomas A, Edison
'1 »-> 7J ,
/Jr rfyu^a/j-vuru^) SUx>(<Jj—i .
: ’•/' Counsel for f>iorjrmnd I<ubin.
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT.
EASTERN DISTRICT OP PENNSYLVANIA .
Thomas A. Edison,
Complainant
VB
Sigmund Lubin,
Defendant
TO THE HONORABLE , T]ffi JUDGES OP THE UNITED STATES CIR¬
CUIT COURT, EOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT 0? PENNSYLVANIA.
Thomas A. Edison, a oitizen and resident of the
United States, and of the Township of Wosrt: Orange , in the
County of Essex, in the State of New Jersey, brings this hi i
bill of complaint against Sigmund Lubin, a resident of the
City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, and in
the Eastern Distriot of Pennsylvania, and thereupon your
orator complains and says:
1. That your orator now is and for more than
seven years last past has been engaged in the business of
making and selling photographs representing actual motion,
and has carried on said business under the name of
Edison Manufacturing Company.
2. That on or about the twenty fifth day of
Pebruary/ nineteen hundred and two, your orator became the
sole proprietor of a certain photograph entitled
1
"Christening and Launching Kaiser Wilhelm's Yacht Meteor"
#****• /IImi,
which saicl photograph was made by -p<M=&e»s, employed by your |
orator for that purpose, upon a certain negative film
which said film was afterwards developed and the photo¬
graph taken thereon was printed upon certain films called
positive films, and that your orator became the exclusive
owner and proprietor of the said photograph on or about
the said twenty fifth day of Februaiy, nineteen hundred andj
two, and before the same had been published.
3. That on or about the twenty eighth day of
February, nineteen hundred and two such proceedings v/ere
duly had by your orator that your orator did on said day
secure a copyright of said photograph pursuant to the
Act of Congress for securing copyrights, which took
effect July 8, 1870, and the amencbicnts thereto, and the
said copyright -was duly issued to your orator under the harjd
and seal of the Librarian of Congress, and the original
record og said copyright is in the Library of Congress.
4. That the following is a true copy of suoh
proceedings .
"library of Congress, Copyright Department:
Washington,
Dear Si.fi-
Copyright entry had been duly made under date
of Feb. P.8, 1902, in accordance with your application of
Feb. 2G , 1902. You are at liberty upon receiving this
notice to print your article vtith the Statutory notice of
copyright. Should a certificate of Copyright be desired |
please remit for each entry the legal fee of 50/.
The law required that two copies of the best edition
of. each article copyrighted shall be sent to the Library of
Congress. If you have not already done so Alien your work
is printed or otherwise produced., send two copies suidres-
sod Librarian of Congress, Copyright Department, Washing! oi,
I). C. in compliance with the law.
Bespoctfully, The Librarian of Congress ,
by Thorwald Solberg,
Register of Copyrights."
and your orator has annexed to this bill, and makes part
hereof a certificate of copyright of the said photograph,
marked schedule 1.
5. That two copies of the best edition of said
article were sent to the Library of Congress by your ora¬
tor on the twenty sixth day of February , nineteen hundred
and two, and were received and filed by the Librarian of
Congress at Washington, D. C., on or before the twenty
eighth day of February, nineteen hundred and two, and be¬
fore the publication of said photograph.
6. That your, orator gave due notice of said
copyright .by printing it on every copy of said photograph
published, to wit, by inscribing upon some visible portion
of every said copy, of the substance on which the same w as
mounted or printed, the following, "copyrighted 1902, by
in each copy of said photograph published
Thomas A, Edison," and by insertingAthe following words,
to wit, copyrighted 1902, by Thomas A. Edison.
7. That your orator begs leave to make said
original copyright and the copy thereof, a part of this
his bill of complaint, and to refer to said original re¬
cord i
8. That your orator is, and ever since the date
of February , twenty fifth, nineteen hundred and two has been
the proprietor of said photograph, and has offered for sale
3
and Bold the noma with the said not loo of such copy¬
right printed on each photograph so sold hy him as hereinaboi ■«
sot forth.
9. That said photograph was taken hy means of a
camera invented by your orator, by naans of which succes¬
sive views of the same object arc taken from the some point
of view, ao that when the said views are successively thrown
upon a screen by manna of an appliance similar to a magic
lantern, the appearance of actual motion is given to the
observer, and that the said sucoenslvc views were taken
on one negative consisting of a strip of film about three
film
hundred feet long, and that from said negative, ^positive
films of varying lengths have been printed by your orator
in the course of his regular business, and sold to the
publio for the purpose of having them reproduced as above
described to give the effect to the observer of aotu.nl
motion, smd that each view is not doldby itself, but are
sold in numbers together, being printed on one atrip
for the foregoing purpose and constituting one photograph.
10/ That the object photographed lay your orator
as above .set forth was the launching of the Yacht Meteor
which was built in the United States for Kaiser Wilhelm
the Emperor of Germany; that the said launching took place
at Shooter's Island in the State of Mew York, and was a
matter of great interest to ell oitiaons of the United
States and all other countries. That the brother of the
said Kaiser Wilhelm, Prinoe Henry, and also the President
of the United States and Ms daughter, were present at
said launching , and stood on a platform at the bow of
the boat, which added greatly to the internet taken by
the publio in the launching of the said boat; that the
photographs so taken W your orator shows t,ho said Yacht-
in the act of bo inf; launched, and also shows the President
of the United States and the said Prince Henry and the
daughter of the President of the United States upon
tho said platform; that, the said boat was christened by
the daughter of the President of tho United States by break¬
ing upon its side a bottle containing some liquid, and that
the said photograph shows tho said daughter of the Presi¬
dent of tho 'United fit at on in the not of christening the
said boat by brooking the said bottle, and that, the said
positive films printed from the said negative, when thrown
upon a screen by nouns of appliances like a magic lantern
as above described give to the observer a truthful picture
of I* ho christening of the fluid boat and of tho launching
thereof, and shows tho said President of the United States,
tho said Prince Henry and tho said daughter of tho Prosiden
of the United Utah, on as aforesaid.
11. That by reason of tho snfid boat being built
for the said Pliporor of Germany and by reason of the
presence at. thonnid launching of the persons above not
forth, the said photograph is well known to tho public
and is much valued by them and tho reproduction of it
upon a screen an above sot forth is much sought after by
the public and many persons derive a large source of in- , !
come by exhibiting the said photograph as aforesaid at
theatres and other public places, so that your orator has
Bold large numbers of said films which nro called in the
trade "Positive films", and has derived and still is de¬
riving large profits therefrom, and expects horoaftor to
continue to derive largo profits as aforesaid.
1?.. That ^yx^tjf-ing an hereinafter not forth
your orat.or ha;: boon in tho oxclusivo quiot use, onjoy-
mont. and profit, of t.ho said photograph, and hi a rights
thereto havo boon v.n Ivor sally aoquioscod in by tho public,
13. That notwithstanding tho quiot use, enjoyment,
and profits of your orator in said photograph, and of t.ho
copyright protecting and reserving t.ho same and all righto
t’o rounder to your orator, tho defendant f-igmund T.uhin
woll. knowing tho promises, and of your orator's copyright,
and wilfully disregarding your orator’s rights and thoro-
aftor and in tho months of April and JCay, in tho year nine-]
toon hundred and two wrongfully and fraudulently prepared,
published and offered for sale, and did sell at tho City ofj
■Philadelphia aforesaid and olsowhoro in various Cities of
tho Unitod States a copy of t.ho said photograph copyrighted]
as aforesaid by your orator in nineteen hundred and two,
under tho titles "haunch of tho Hotoor", and "haunch" end
threatens to continue such sales, all. of which wan, and stit
is, being done with intent t.o docoivo end. defraud the pub-|
lie and the buyers and users thoroof ; and tho said defen¬
dant has published and sold, and is publishing and soiling
said photograph called "haunch of 1'otoor* and "haunch",
which is a substantial copy and identic el. with your orator1
aforesaid copyrighted photograph and throatons and intends
io continue such publishing and sales.
14. That tho said defendant surreptitiously and
fraudulently purchased from your: orator or from some person
to whom your orator had so?.d tho same after its copyright a
aforesaid, one of said copyrighted photographs, with tho in
tontion of copying the same and selling the said copies in
derogation of your orator’s said right, and after so
pur-chasing the sold photographs the said defendant did by
photographic moans make copies of the SRid photographs,
and sold thorn to t.he public under the said title as aforo-
said and threatens and intends to continue to make and sell
the some as aforesaid, although well knowing that the said
photograph had been copyrighted by your orator, and that
such manufacture and sale of the same was a wrongful
invasion of your orator's said rights.
IS. That such imitation of tho said photograph
of your orator and such sale of the some is calculated
to doceive the public, and actually has and si ill does
mislead many of thorn to buy said photograph so wrongfully
sold by the said defendant under tho namos "launch of the
?rot;eor" and "launch", because they have and contain tho
RR7U views as tho said photograph copyrighted by your orator
and sold by your orator, greatly to the diminution of your
orator's said business and profits.
16. That by reason of tho 'premises and the
wrongful acts of the defendant as aforesaid, your orator ha|f
been, injured to the amount of five Thousand Hollars, and
is still being injured by tho continued sale and publica¬
tion by the defendant of the said photograph, published and|
sold as aforesaid hy him under the titles "Launch" and
"Launch of th- Meteor", although the do fondant was duly not¬
ified by your orator a long time prior to: the commencement
of this action that your orator’s said j)hotograph had been
copyrighted by your oratorjand tho defendant, to the injury
your oratorhas thereby unjustly and unlawfullymade and stiUll
makes great gainsand profit which belong byright., and accordii
law to your orator, to your orator’s groat damage and
Injury.
And your orator presents to this Court an exhibits
in connection with thin b .13.1 ono of tho photographs copy¬
righted by your orator and sold by him as aforesaid, marked
at tho end "Exhibit 1" and N'MS.fSmitb’’ and contained in a
box upon which in the label "Christening and Launching of
tho Kainor’n Yacht Kotoor”, and also two of the copies of
the some made and sold an aforonnid by defend fait, oho of
which copies is marked "J.H.H. " and "J.n. Smith" end con¬
tained in a box labelled with the title "Launch of the
T'oteor" with the initials "J.J7.W. " marked on said label, an?
the of.!' or marked "J.H.H. " 5, contained in u box labelled
with tho title "Launch" and marked with tho initials "7. H. T"
on said label, the said two last, named oopion being each a
copy of a portion of your orator’s said copyrighted phota-
gritph.
All of which actings and doings aro contrary to eq¬
uity and good conscience and uro done to tho manifest, in¬
jury of your orator in the premises*
17. Your orator therefore prays as follows:
(1) That, the said defendant. Sigmund Lubin
may bo required by decree of this Honorable Court to ac¬
count for an pay over to your orator nuch gains and
profits as have accrued or arisen or boon; or re¬
ceived by tho said defendant, by reason of said unawlful
doings and all such gains and profits as would have
accrued to your orator, but for tho unawlful doings of
said defendant, and all damages your orater has sustained
thoroby.
(?,) That the defendant be compelled by an
order of this Court to deliver up t,o your orator all the
copios of your orator’s said copyrighted phett
to graphs in the possession of the do fondant and all nega¬
tive films there ;
(3) That tho do fondant and his associates,
attorneys, servants, clerks, an ant s and workmen may be
perpetually enjoined end restrained by writ of injunc¬
tion issuing out. of and under tho seal of this Honorable
Court from directly or indirectly using or causing to bo
used, selling on causing to be sold any copies of your
orator- :s said coprighted photograph not. purchased from your
orator.
(4) That your Honors, will grant unto your
orator a preliminary injunction issuing out of and under
tho seal of this Honorable Court onjoining and restraining
the said defendant and his associates, attorneys, servants,
clerks, and workman to the same purpose , tenor and effect
an hornin«^*v~*r5 prayed for with rogard to tho said perpet¬
ual injunction.
(5' That tho said dofondant may he decreed
to pay tho costs of thin suit .
(<>) That your orator may lave such other and
further roliof as the equity of the case may require.
To tho end therefore, that tho said dofondant
may, if ho can, show why your ortitor should not have tho
roliof ho re by prayed for, and may full true and direct
answer make, hut, not undor oath, answer under oath boing
expressly waived, according to the host and utmost of his
knowledge, remembrance and boiler t.o tho several matters
hereinabove and set forth, as fully and particu¬
larly as if the stone we--- rojioated paragraph by paragraph
and the said defendant thereto specifically interrogated.
Kay it please your Honors to grant, unto your
orator a writ fif subpoena ad respon dendum issuing o^Ct $
9.
of and under the seal of this Honorable Court directed to
1;ho Raid do fondant Sigmund Lubin, commanding him to
ftppoar and make answer to this hill oj~ complaint, and to
perform and ahido by such orders and. docrees heroin as to
this Court nay soon Just.
And. your orator vrill ever pray etc.
Solicitor and. of counsel for
Com'lainanl. .
10.
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT,
\
EASTERN DISTRICT OE PENNSYLVANIA .
THOMAS A.EDISON,
Complainant .
VS.
SIGMUND DUB IN,
Defendant .
IN EQUITY.
BRIEE EOR COMPLAINANT .
This case comes on for final hearing on an
agreed state of facts. That statement 1b so concise
that it is needless to repeat it. The important facts
are as follows: The complainant owns a negative of a
photograph, taken hy a machine of his own invention, of
the launching of a yacht. This negative consists of
about forty five hundred photographic views taken in
rapid succession and so made, that a positive /twteen from
it caw he thrown upon a screen hy means of a machine
similar to a magic lantern, and give the appearance of
the actual motion of the launching of the yacht. Photo¬
graphs were printed from this negative film and were
duly copyrighted. Only one copyright was taken on each
photograph, and the notice of copyright on those Bold was
put on the end of the film and not on each picture.
The defendant purchased one of these positive films in
the open market, from which the copyright mark had been
removed. He then printed from it mechanically a nega¬
tive film, and from that negative film printed positive
films and sold them. These positive films sold by the'
defendant are identical with the one copyrighted by the
complainant, except that on account of the successive
printings they lack detail and have other defects.
The following questions arise:
2.
noea the removal of the notice of copyright hy
some third party before the purchase by the defendant }
permit the defendant to make and sell copies of the copy¬
righted photograph ? This is answered in the negative,
in the case of Faulk v.Gast, 54 Fed.Rep, 890, ^and I can
add nothing to the reasoning of that case.
Does the photograph in question show such ar¬
tistic skill as to make it the subject of copyright ?
The subject photographed is the launching of a
ya°ht^ The photograph shows that a platform was placed
alongside of the yacht, above which, hung against the
side of the yacht, was a bottle containing some liquid to
be used for the christening. Upon this platform a number
of persons, including President Roosevelt, Prince Henry,
iliss Roosevelt and others, appear and walk and move around
and converse. The bottle is then broken by Miss Roose¬
velt and the yacht glides down the ways into the water.
In order to take a good photograph of this scene it was
necessary to use great artistic skill in placing the
camera, having due regard to the time of day, the amount
of light, and the lights and shadows of the yacht and
figures, and also as to the time of exposures. Consid¬
eration also had to be given to the fact that as the
yacht was launched it moved away from the camera. It i3
evident that this required great artistic skill on the
part of the photographer.
Of late years great advance has been made in
the art of photographing inanimate objects. Many beauti -
ful photographs of landscapes are continually taken.
Photographers art clubs have been formed in many of the
principal cities of the United States and annual exhibi-
3.
tions are held, similar to those of the various socities
of artiBts. To anyone who has seen these high-class
photographs it is evident that the highest form of artis¬
tic skill must he used. The placing of the camera with
due regard to the subject, the light and the lights and
shades, and the time of exposure , all require great artis¬
tic skill. In many of the current magazines reproduc¬
tions of these art photographs, as they are called, are
continually seen, and no doubt the court is familiar with
them.
.... , , .On my way down in the train to argue the matter
; (vMh/OuM p
oar -the preliminary injunction, I purchased Scribners ror
June, 1902, and found there an article, beginning on pag e
679, on the subject of these photographs, giving six or
eight examples of very artistic and beautiful photographs.
The state of this art is so well known now that, the court
can well take judicial cognizances^, There is a case
which is quite in point
fWUsA.
In Saids vs. Outing Co., 77 Ped.Rep, 966 {C.C.A. )
‘Ur held that a photograph of a yacht under
sail shows artistic skill, and is a proper subject for
copyright.
III.
Should section 4592 of the act be liberally
construed so as to hold that these series of photographic
views constitutes "a photograph" within the meaning of
the act 7
This art of reproducing actual motion is the
produot of the genius of Thomas A.JSdison. It is true
that, before his time, some experimenters, notably
had taken instantaneous photographs of objects in
motion, some of them successive; but no effort was made
to prolong the operation so as to take a scene lasting
4.
sometime, or to reproduce them. J5h8 persistence of the
visual impression was well known, and scientific toys
like the zoetro^e were based on that knowledge; hut Mr.
Edison was the first one to grasp the possibilities of
the art and to devise the mechanism by which photographs
such as these could be taken and reproduced at will.
It is true that on account of these early experiments a
patent of his was declared invalid because the claims
were too broad; but that patent has been surrendered and
reissued, and the claims confined to the special mechan¬
ism invented by Mr .Edison, and no doubt will now be sub -
tained.
The invention is a very meritorious one. By
means of it great amusement and valuable instruction are
given to the public. The photographs are sold through¬
out the country to various exhibitors, and are shown to
S,
audiences . The subj ects embrace almost everything of
interest throughout the world; a moving train, the ocean
surf breaking on the sandy beach, the inauguration of
President McKinley, the Coronation procession of Edward
VII, the yacht race for the America cup, and are some
of the subjects which are daily shown to interested and1
instructed audiences.
Taking the original negatives is very expensive,
as will be readily seen. A photographer of great artis¬
tic skill ix. has to be employed and the most, expensive
cameras used. These photographers are sent all over the
world to take interesting and instructive scenes. A
special man was sent to take the Coronation procession of
Edward VII . z On the other hand the infringer of the
copyright Ado so at almost no expense. All an infringer
has to do is to purchase one of the positive films, print
from it a negative and from that negative e positives and
5.
then put tiseM on the market. The expense is «r little
more than the cost of the sensitized films. This i3 the
course pursued by the defendant.
All of these considerations must strongly ap¬
peal to the court and make it feel that it Eauirt should
go as far as possible in trying to construe the act so as
to protect these produots of so valuable an art.
Each photographic view by itself is worthless.
On account of the peculiar necessities of the art, the
views have to be taken of such a.cliaracter that each one
hardly .shows what the subject is, and would be worthless
itf -ta]cewAby itself. It is only when the photograph is
used in connection with an apparatus like the magic lant¬
ern that it is useful, and then the actual scenes that
were photographed appear on the screen. The character
of thdse successive views can be easily seen by examining
OlTvjl a/x.
the positive filmswhich is=teHE=of=the exhibits.
A
It is urgedjhowever , that as another section of
this act is penal, the entire act must be construed
strictly.
It seems to me that this argument is fallacious.
The act has two elements. The sections which are remed-
ial and the section which imposed the penalty. There is
6j itXxjn\
no reason why the remedial ao* should not be construed
liberally and the penal section construed strictly. The
effect of that would be to acknowledge as far as possible
the protection of the act and to construe broadly the
description of fc the article that could be copyrighted;
while at the same time the owner of the copyright should'
be held strictly to all the formalities necessary to be
gone through in order to obtain the photograph, and tfnrfc
in any penal .action the provisions of the penal section
1b construed strictly. This course seems to have been
weens trued by the courts of the United States from the .
earliest times, and drwon-o will be found wwUdnrf'' contem-
A
poraneously in which the remedial portion of the act is
construed liberally; while, on the other hand, the penal
section is construed strictly and the owner of the copy-
right held to the strictest observance of the formalities
necessary to obtain a valid copyright.
STATUTES .
The copyright statutes are briefly as follows:
The Federal Constitution of 1787 gives Congress power to
legislate for the protection of "authors and inventors."
The act of 1790 (1 stat.at Large ,p. 124) covers
"Map, chart, book or books". There is a penalty imposed
of forfeiture and a fine of fifty cents for each sheet
"found" .
The act of 1802 (2 Stat.at Large p.171) added
designs, engravings and etchings.
The act of 1831 (4 Stat at Large, p.436)
added musical compositions.
The act of 1856 (11 Stat at Large, p.138) pre¬
vents the unauthorized performance of a dramatic composi¬
tion which has been copyrighted.
The act of 1865 (13 Stat at Large,p.540) adds
photographs and negatives.
The act of 1870 (16 Stat at Large,' section 86)
added paintings, drawings, cromoB, statues, Btatuary and
models or designs intended to be perfected as works of ffe-
fine arts, and permitted the "author, inventor, designer
or proprietor" to take out the copyrught. The penalty
7.
is increased to one dollar for every sheet "found" .
This statute repeals the others and is practically iden¬
tical with the statute now in existance. It was re¬
enacted in the revised statutes as sections 4948-4971.
The amendatory act of 1891 makes no change that
needs he noted here, and the same may he said of the
amendment of 1895. They affect only the penal section
4965.
DECISIONS .
The decisions that I can find hearing on the
case are as follows, and they seem to unite in constru¬
ing the remedial part of the act liberally and the penal
part strictly.
DECISIONS ON REMEDIAL SECTIONS Off THR1 STATUTE.
DRURY v .EWING , 1 Bond. 540.
25 MYERS, Bed. Rag. Dec. P.9’7'6.
A dress pattern shhet on a single sheet, of paper
is a "hook" within the meaning of the copyright statute
of 1831.
YUNGLING V.SCHIIE, 12 Bed Rep., 97.
A crorno is a "print" under the act of 1831.
EOSSITKR V.HAIiTj, 5 Blatch.362.
25 MYERS, Bed. Dec .p. 1028.
Notice of copyright may he printed on the margin
of the print.
DALY V. PALMER, 6 Blatch.256.
25 Mayers , Eed. Dec. p.1092-1095.
ed
A "dramatic*’ composition, designer suited for
public representation" is included in "hook or hooks, map,
chart , musical composition, print, cut or engraving."
8.
u.s.
LITHOGRAPH CO.VS .SARONEY, 111^53.
The initial of the given name or even the sur¬
name alone is enough in the notice of copyright. Photo¬
graphs may he copyrighted "so far as they are representa¬
tives of original intellectual conception of the author."
CALLAGHAN VS .MYBRS ,128 U.S . 617 .
A copyright is taken in the name of E.B. Myers
and Chandler. E.B.Myers' name was placed on the notice
of copyright. Held an immaterial variation. The hook
was copyrighted in 1867. 1886 was used in the notice
of copyright. Held immaterial variation. Reports of
decisions may he lawfully copyrighted.
BRADY V .DALY, 111 U.S.ldS^Sec.dOee of the Revised
Statutes is not a penal statute.
A. statute may he penal as to one person and remedial
as to another.
biases cited in Huntington vs.Attrill, 146 U.S. 657;
approved in Brady v.Daly, 111 U.S. 148.
Myers vs .Callaghan, 5. Bed Rep. 726, 732.
"It seems to me *** that thdBe various provisions
of law in relation to copyright should have a liberal con¬
struction, in order to give effect to what may he construec.
the inherent right of an author to his own work."
A list of horses with their speed records etc.
may h^copyrightedj^HiaBton v.Gocher, 70 B.R.237.
, 100 Bed.Rep.447.
DECISIONS ON TKK PENAL SUCTIONS OB THE STATUTE .
JOHNSON V .DONALDSON , ^ Bed. Rep .22.
In an action for penalties the defendant cannot
he compelled to produce his hooks,
9.
BACKUS V. GOULD, 7 HOWARD , 798.
The penalty of fifty cents under the act of
1831 "is limited to the sheets in the possession of the
defendant *** as this is a penal section it must he con¬
strued strictly."
THORNTON V.SCHRIKBNR, 124 U.S.612.
Photographs in the actual custody of an employee
are not in his "possession", hut in the "possession" of
the employer, under R.S.gec.fcte* 4965? the penal section.
BOYffJiJS V. OUTING, 175 U.S.262.
The penalty of $1.00 of R.S.gec.t4eH 4965 extends
only to sheets "found" in defendants possession hy some
legal process like replevin. This section is spoken of
as a penal statute to he construed strictly. ^
and 3
i, approved.
SARONKT V.PHRICH, 28 P.R.79, £
"The section in question (R.S.4965) must he i
Btrictly construed."
BBNNRTT W. CARR, 96 Ped.Rep.213 (C.C.A
In an action for a penalty under R.S, 4965, com¬
pliance with the provisions of section 4956 "which
should he strictly construed because it contains the
condition precedent to the recovery of severer penalties*
is necessary; and both tfce^description and ttae^photo^raph
of a copyrighted painting must he deposited with the 'Li¬
brarian of Congress.
PALK V. CURTIS, *02 Ped.Rep.967.
Action to recover penalty under R.S.4965. The
suit was begun before seizure. Held premature. "As the
plaintiff is seeking to enforce a highly penal statute,
he is rightly held to a strict compliance with the forms
10.
of legal procedure."
Affiri/’in Falk vs. Curtis, 107 Fed. Rep. 126 (C.C.A)
Slreruit Cmirt) .
In thiB case the complainant does not seek to
enforce a penalty. His rights are given to him hy R.S.
4952, which is purely remedial and contains no penal
features j and a means of protecting those rights is
given hy section 4970, under which this hill is filed.
It is respectfully. Isuhmitted that a decree should
he granted in favor of ...the complainant.
Of counsel v,'ith complainant.
Type "Q" Cell,
1902.
illiam Pelser, Esq.,
C/o Howard V/* Hayes
Uev/ar k , IT. J.
X .have your favor of the 24th, advising mo re; ;arding
he Edison-!' tfcin case. I presume that under the circumstances there is
o further redress for us, hut at the same time I want you to make a
emo. andput it on Hr. Hayes' deslc so that •■.hen he returns I con tale
t up arid discuss it with him, I do not want to Give up the fight
f there is a possible way of got ting around it, as this man Lubin is
ont, inning to duplicate filniB that cost us a great many hundreds of
ollars to obtain and one particular film that we have just Gotten out
as cost us pretty near a thousand dollars to get the negative, and he
imply goes ahead and copies same, making a negative and issuing posi-
ives from same indiscriminately, so you can see that he is doing our
usiness a great deal of harm' and vie, apparently, have no redress.
eg/iw
Newark, M.J. » Apr. 2L-1903.
Tho&as A. Edison, Ea<i. ,
Ste?/artsville, ■
Warren Co, ,
, N. J. ■
Dear Mr. Edison:- ' -
I have' just received from the Clerk of the U. S.
Circuit Court of Appeals at Philadelphia a letter/ as follows:
"Howard W. Kayos , Esq. ,
Dear Sir:-
Tlie court to-day handed, down an opinion in
the case of Thomas A. Edison, Appellant, ve.'Signund Luhin,
Appellee,. No; ,23 March Tern 1903 hy Buffington, District Judge,
in which the decree of the Cirouit. Court ms reversed with dir¬
ections to enter a decree in favor ;of the Complainant."
That seems to me that:the present copyright law
... _ j to moving pictures and that the method of copyrighting and
affixing notices pursued hortofore hy you issdfficient. I have
sent for a copy of -the opinion, which X will send to you at once.
HWH/a.D.
Howard ¥. Hayes, Esq..
- iuua
MAY 4- 1903
May x
Newark, N. J.
Desr Sirs
Referring to your letter of April 22nd, enclosing copy of
the decision in the Rubin case, it is my desire that we spread this
broadcast , so that other infringers will know that the decision is in
our favor. Of course we have got to issue something to the trade
generally, and I wish you would get up what you consider would be
proper. You will remember that there was some arrangement with Mr.
Butler, the attorney for lubin, whereby we were not to advertise this.
I. presume it will not be possible for us to place any advertisement in
the "Clipper". If we can do so, I would like you to arrange to give m
what you would consider proper in the way of an advertisement.
Y/EG/lW
Mr. Oilmoro tt/is nlilmml l
Yours very truly,
£
Vice-Pres. & Gen. Mgr.
[ATTACHMENT]
Hr TUB TOUTED STATES CIRCUIT COURT OB’
APPEALS
for the Third Circuit.
Thomas A* Edison,
. Appellant ,
v.
Sigmund LuUin,
Appellee.
Appeal from the Clm.it Court of the United Status
for the Eastern Blatriot Of Pennsylvania*
Before Achcson, Circuit,, and Buffington and Kirkpat-
riok, Bistfcict Judges.
Buffington, J.
In the court Belov? Thomas Af Edison, appellant,
filed a hill in equity against Sigmund Luhin, appellee,
praying an injunction for alleged infringement of a
copy-right. That court Being Of opinion, see IIP Bad.
Rop. , 993, such copyright had no statutory warrant entered
a decree dismissing the Bill, whereupon complainant
took this appeal. The question involved is novel, interest¬
ing and within its sphere, important. The complainant's •: .>
operator, By means of a plvotod camera of special, con¬
struction designed and owned By complainant, took In
rapid succession, on a single highly sensitized celluloid
film three hundred feet long, forty-five hundrod piotureo,
each of which was a shade different from its predooenoor
and tmocesoor, and «11 of Which collectively represented
at different points Kaiaer Wilhelm* o Yacht Meteor while
Being christened and launched. Brow this film or negative
a positive reproduction was made on a celluloid sheetBy
[ATTACHMENT!
light exposure. The valjje of suoh celluloid reproduction
io that by means of an appliance similiar to a magic lantern,
these views may he thrpv/n on a screen In rapia succession
so as to give the effect of actual motion and pictorically
reproduce the launching precisely as it took place. This
positive oelluloid sheet was sent hy the complainant to the
Department of the Interior and hy it copyrighted to him
as proprietor under "the title of a photograph, the title
to whloh is in the following wordB, to wit, Christening
and Launching Kaiser Vilhelm1 s Yacht Meteor". The oompalin« i;
ant ’hereafter places on the copies thereof issued hy him
a notice of copyright Ascribed on a celluloid plate fastened
on the front and a Sl the end, of the sheet. From the other j
end of one of such marked" ar tides about one^Jthlrd thereof
was detached hy some unkhown person and came into the
hands of respondent without knowledge on his part of its i
having been copyrighted. The fifteen hundred pictures on |!
this part, which represented a part of the launch, Lubin f
photographed on a sensitized oelluloid film. 'Prom this
negative he reproduced a positive on a' celluloid sheet i
which was of oourse an exact reproduction of the copyrighted
one of the complainant. Thesewere sold to exhibitors and
anahled them to reproduce the part of the launch therein
represented. The Act of Congress, R.s. Seo. 4952, under ^
whioh' the Department of the Interior issued this copyright
provides: "Any citizen of the United States***who shall
[ATTACHMENT]
foe*** the author or proprietor of any***photograi>h or
nogative thereof* **shall .upon complying with the provisions
of this chapter have the sole liberty of printing, reprint-
ing, publishing, completing, copying, executing, finishing
and vending the seme." Does ouch Act warrant the granting of
this copyright? On that question the court below said: "That
sectionextended the copyrighting ayatem to "any***photo-
graph", but not to any aggregation of photographs, and.
I think that, to acquire the monopoly it confers, it ia
requisite that every photograph, no matter how or for what
purpose it may be conjoined with others, shall be separately
registered, and that the prescribed notice of oopyright
shall foe inserted upon each of them. "The court also held
that as the violation of a copyroghted photograph was a
subject of penalty under a subsequent section, the section
authorizing the copyright must be strictly construed^ An
examination' shows that the negative and its positive repro¬
duction 'represent, one act or event j’ to wit,, the launch
of the yacht. This launch was portrayed on a single negative
fili, by one operator and a camera, operated from a single
point and suoh negative simply photographically reprodeocs
in continuous form the view of the launoh presented to the
eye of an onlooker at the spot. occupied by the camera.
The instantaneous and continuous operation of the camera
is such that the difference between successive pictures is
not distinguishable by the eye and is so slight that the
3.
[ATTACHMENT!
casual observer will take a vary considerable number of
successive pictures of the series said cay they ara identical*
It In only when pictured for removed from each other in the
seriofl are compared that differences are aeon, but in every
one the platform from '>7hich the christening took place,
and on which prominent persona attending the launch stood, in
depicted* To require each of numerous undiotinsuiah&ble
pictures to bo individually copyrighted, an suggested by the
court, would in effect bo to require copyright of many
pictures to protoot a single one* So much for the negative*
When we consider the positive sheet which was copyrighted,
Vfls hare a stronger case* Vdsat was thus copyrighted was a
single celluloid sheet on which a number of objects had
been photographically printed or reproduced. That those vbj
objects mro there portrayed by light action or photography
is unquestioned* Vo natter how the negative woo obtained,
sfcothor by numerous and successive exposures, is not hero
material* The statute provides for copyrighting negatives,
but the present issue is not whether tho negative in question
was one covered by tho statute, but whether when the nega¬
tive as a whole ms photopraphioally reproduced, the repro¬
duction wan a photograph* On that point wo feel asoured. Uhen
tho reproduction was made, oomplain«nt‘s celluloid negative aw
simply posae3B«d the repr oduotive capacity by light action
incident to the photographic art* The image which hart been
thrown by light reflected from tho originals md paused
4, .
[ATTACHMENT!
through a cffisera to produce tho negative, in the reproduc¬
tive pro oo pa produood the positive by light action passed
through mioh transparent negative* The more circiustot&ncfj
thotnouch pOBitiva is pictured on a ntrlp of celluloid
and not on a strip of paper ia teetorial. In either overt,
tho reproduction la a light-written and therefore a photogv
Graphic picture or photograph. To nmr that tho continuous
method by which this negative was secured was Unknown
when tho Aqt was pancod and therefore & photograph of it
was not covered by the Act , in to hoc tho question* Such
construction in at variance with the object of the Act
which was passed to further tho conetitntSonal grant of
payor "to promote the progress of science and useful arts"/'
When Congress i« recognition of (die photographic art saw
fit in I860 to amend the Act of 1831, and extend copyright
protect ion to a photograph or negative, it is not to bo
protjumed it thought ouoh art could not progress and that
no protection was to be afforded ouoh progretiB\' It aunt
have recognised there would be change and advance in making
photographs juot as there has been in waking books, print¬
ing chromes and other subjects of Copyright protection,
mile auch advance has resulted in a different type of pho¬
tography, yet it ia none tho 1030 n photograph-a picture
produced by photographic process, Prom the standpoint of
preparatory work in scouring the negative tho latter oon-
siata of a number of different views, but when the negative
5.
[ATTACHMENT]
vt&o secured the article reproduced therefrom was a single pho¬
tograph of the whole. And that it i a an oubatanco a a ingle
photograph in shewn by the faot that its value consists
In its protection as a whole or unit and the injury to
copyright protection oonsiato not in pirating on» picture
hut in appropriating it in its entirety#
Wb are further of opinion the photograph in question mot t
the statutory requirement of being intended to he perfected
and completed as a work of the fine art. It embodies artis¬
tic conception and oxpre onion* ®o obtain it requires a study
of lights, shadows, gonoral surroundings and a vantage
point adapted to securing the entire effect. In hollos vs.
She Outing Company, 77 Wed. Rep., 966, depicting a .yacht
under full sail too held to constitute an original work
of art, and in view of the recent decision of the supreme c^h
Court, Bleistein v»« Bonaldocn Company, 10S O.G., p. 1553
in reference to the character In that regard of a pircua poet*
or, we have no question that the present photograph suffici¬
ently fulfilln the character of a work of tho fin© arts.
We arc also of opinion the cheat ms only marked for it
was such as *to give notice of the copyright to the public
by planing upon each copy in oomo visible shape the nemo of t
the arthur, tho existence of tho claim to exclusive right
and tho date at Which thic right woo obtained®, vdiich in
Burrow-Olios Co, vs. Sarony, 111 tj.s,, 753 Wffi8 mid to be
. 6*
[ATTACHMENT]
the object of the statute*
Th® decree of the court below la therefore reversed
with directions to enter a decree for the oc^plainant*
Congratulating yon and Mr. Kdij
upon the result
Lubin vs Edison.
Dec. 27,1904.
Melville Church, Esq. ,
908 - G Street,
Washington, D.C.
My dear Mr. Churoh:-
Your favor of the 9th ult. was duly
received, and 1 am glad to hear that the Supreme Court granted
your motion to dismiss Lutin' s appeal and congratulate you on the
result.
When the mandate is sent down,.,'ifi'ndly attend to the
entry of the decree in the Court below, as you suggest. /» '
Yours very truly,
ELL/ARK.
PUBLICATION AND MICROFILM
COPYING RESTRICTIONS
Reel duplication of the whole or of
any part of this film is prohibited.
In lieu of transcripts, however,
enlarged photocopies of selected
items contained on these reels
may be made in order to facilitate
research.
A Note on the Sources
The pages which have been
filmed are the best copies
available. Every technical
effort possible has been
made to ensure legibility.
223
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS
PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Charles Edison Fund
The Hyde and Watson Foundation
National Trust for the Humanities
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
PUBLIC FOUNDATIONS
National Science Foundation
National Endowment for the
Humanities
National Historical Publications and
Records Commission
PRIVATE CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
Alabama Power Company
Anonymous
AT&T
Atlantic Electric
Association of Edison Illuminating
Companies
Battelle Memorial Institute
The Boston Edison Foundation
Cabot Corporation Foundation, Inc.
Carolina Power & Light Company
Consolidated Edison Company of New
York, Inc.
Consumers Power Company
Cooper Industries
Corning Incorporated
Duke Power Company
Entergy Corporation (Middle South
Electric System)
Exxon Corporation
Florida Power & Light Company
General Electric Foundation
Gould Inc. Foundation
Gulf States Utilities Company
David and Nina Heitz
Hess Foundation, Inc.
Idaho Power Company
IMO Industries
International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley H. Katz
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Midwest Resources, Inc.
Minnesota Power
New Jersey Bell
New York State Electric & Gas
Corporation
North American Philips Corporation
Philadelphia Electric Company
Philips Lighting B.V.
Public Service Electric and Gas Company
RCA Corporation
Robert Bosch GmbH
Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation
San Diego Gas and Electric
Savaiuiah Electric and Power Company
Schering-Plough Foundation
Texas Utilities Company
Thomas & Betts Corporation
Thomson Grand Public
Transamerica Delaval Inc.
West'mghouse Foundation
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
BOARD OF SPONSORS
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Jersey
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Roger Durham
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Smithsonian Institution
Bernard Finn
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EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
James Brittain, Georgia Institute of Teclmology
R. Frank Colson, University of Southampton
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Susan Hockey, University of Alberta
Thomas Parke Hughes, University of Pemisylvania
Peter Robinson, Oxford University
Philip Scranton, Georgia Institute of Technology/Hagley Museum and Library
Merritt Roe Smith, Massachusetts Institute of Teclmology
THOMAS A. EDISON PAPERS
Robert A. Rosenberg
Director and Editor
Thomas E. Jeffrey
Associate Director and Coeditor
Paul B. Israel
Managing Editor, Book Edition
Helen Endick
Assistant Director for Administration
Associate Editors
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Research Associates
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Assistant Editors
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Secretary
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Thomas A. Edison Papers
Rutgers, The State University
endorsed by
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18 June 1981
Copyright © 1999 by Rutgers, The State University • •
All rights reserved. No part of this publication including any portion of the guide and index or of
the microfilm may be reproduced, stored In a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any
means— graphic, electronic, mechanical, or chemical, includingphotocopying, recordingor taping,
or information storage and retrieval systems— without written permission of Rutgers, The State
University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
The original documents hi this edition are from the archives at the Edison National Historic Site
at West Orange, New Jersey.
& 6dU>oru 'tapeA*
A SELECTIVE MICROFILM EDITION
PART IV
(1899-1910)
Thomas E. Jeffrey
Lisa Gitelman
Gregory Jankunis
David W. Hutchings
Leslie Fields
Theresa M. Collins
Gregory Field
Aido E. Salerno
Karen A. Detig
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Director and Editor
Sponsors
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1999
Edison signature used with permission of McGraw-Edison Company